RF communication of data between currency canister and automated banking machine

ABSTRACT

An automated canister reloading machine is able to reload a currency canister removed from an ATM. The reloading machine includes a supply of currency notes. The reloading machine can transfer currency notes from the supply into a storage area of the canister. The canister includes a memory that can store data representative of information concerning the canister, such as data representative of the type and number of currency notes held in the canister. The reloading machine is able to update the canister memory.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/789,075filed Apr. 23, 2007. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/789,075 is adivisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/861,277 filed Jun. 4, 2004,which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/315,284 filed Dec.9, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,939, which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/565,415 filed May 5, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.6,520,408, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/193,016filed Nov. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,522, which claims thebenefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/094,314 filed Jul. 27,1998 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/067,319 filed Nov. 28,1997.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to automated banking machines. Specifically thisinvention relates to an automated banking machine that enables currencybills, notes or other documents deposited by one customer to beidentified and stored in the machine, and later selectively dispensed toanother customer.

BACKGROUND ART

Automated banking machines are known in the prior art. A popular type ofautomated banking machine is an automated teller machine (ATM). Othertypes of automated banking machines are used to count and dispense cash.These machines are often used by tellers or customer servicerepresentatives in banking and other transaction environments.

ATM machines commonly in use accept deposits from customers and processthe deposits using devices which are separate from the devices whichdispense currency and other items to customers. Most common ATMdepositories require customers to place their deposits in an envelope.The envelope is accepted into the machine for storage. Although thecustomer indicates the value of the contents of the envelope, thecustomer's account is often not credited for the amount of deposit untilthe envelope is removed from the ATM by bank personnel and the contentsverified.

Other ATM machines have the capability of receiving checks and othernegotiable instruments. Such machines may include a device such as isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,467. Devices of this type can be used tocancel and produce electronic images of checks which are deposited intoan ATM machine. The cancelled checks are stored in the machine for laterremoval by bank personnel.

Currency notes, travelers checks and other documents and sheet materialsthat are commonly dispensed by ATMs, are generally housed in the machinein removable canisters. Sheets are dispensed from the canisters anddelivered by the machine to customers. Periodically these canisters mustbe removed from the machine and the supply of sheets thereinreplenished. This is a labor intensive activity. To replace thecanisters the secure portion of the ATM must be opened. The canisters inthe machine must be removed and new canisters, which include a newsupply of sheets, placed in the machine. Alternatively the canisters inthe machine may be opened, money or other sheets added, and thenreplaced. After the canisters are replaced the secure portion of themachine must be closed.

The replacement or resupply of canisters often requires transportingfilled canisters to the machine and returning partially depletedcanisters to a remote location. While efforts have been made in thedesign of canisters to minimize opportunities for pilferage, there isalways some risk. Therefore such activities are normally carried out byarmed couriers. More than one person is often assigned to any task wherethere is access to the cash or other valuables in the machine. Becausenumerous individuals may be involved in loading replacement canisters,transporting replacement canisters to ATM machines, replacing thecanisters, returning the removed canisters and auditing the contents ofreturned canisters, it is often difficult to identify the cause of anylosses.

The need to periodically replace currency canisters is an inconveniencebecause the ATM must be shut down. Customers are not able to use the ATMwhile the supply of currency is being replenished, and lostopportunities to conduct transactions and customer dissatisfaction mayresult. Customers will also be disappointed if replenishment operationsare not performed frequently enough and the machine runs out of currencyor other documents.

Other types of automated banking machines, such as those that dispensecash to customer service representatives, have the same drawbacks as ATMmachines. Periodic replenishment of the currency or other valuabledocuments that are dispensed by the machine must be done to keep themachine in operation. While such machines speed the cash dispensingservice to the customer, there is a significant cost associated withsegregating, preparing and transporting the currency before it is placedwithin the machine.

Other banking machines have been developed for identifying and countingcurrency. Such machines may be used in banking and vending environments.Machines which count currency generally require that the currency bepre-oriented a particular way to obtain proper identification. This istime consuming for the person operating the machine. Many currencycounting machines also tend to reject valid notes due to naturaldeterioration which occurs in U.S. currency. The speed associated withsuch currency counting and accepting machines is also less thandesirable in many cases.

Automated banking machines which are capable of receiving currency,identifying the particular type and denomination of currency, storingthe currency and later dispensing it to a customer have been used incountries outside the United States. Such recycling machines arefeasible in countries such as Japan where currency notes include specialfeatures which facilitate their identification by machines. However,such recycling machines have not generally been feasible with U.S.currency notes which generally do not include special features thatfacilitate identification by machine. U.S. currency notes also aresubject to a wide range of conditions such as wear, soiling andbleaching which do not render a note unfit for use, but which render itvery difficult for a machine to properly identify.

The currency recycling type banking machines that have been developedalso generally suffer from slow operating speeds. This is particularlytrue when the machines are used to process a large number of notes.Often such machines require that the notes be oriented in a particularway and considerable time is associated with the rejection of notes dueto improper orientation. The handling of the sheets to facilitateidentification and storage is also a time consuming process. Once asheet has been initially identified as proper and stored in the machine,there is generally no check to be sure that the original determinationof the type and character of the note was correct. As a result, acustomer may receive a misidentified note. This can reduce customersatisfaction.

In the operation of current automated banking machines it is notuncommon for operators to add cash to currency canisters withoutcounting the notes remaining in the canister. This is often done to savetime particularly where the operator of the machine does not wish totransport the canisters to a remote location for reloading. ATMs may runfor an extended period of time without an actual count of the number ofnotes in a canister. Often when an accounting is actually takendiscrepancies are noted between the number of notes remaining in thecanister and the number that would be expected to be present based onthe amount of currency that the machine has dispensed. In thesesituations it is often difficult to determine if the cause of theproblem is pilferage, a miscalculation of the amount inserted into thecanister during one of the reloading procedures or errors in dispensingby the machine. Generally in these situations it is not possible todetermine the cause of the discrepancy.

Currency canisters also may be configured to dispense different types ofdocuments. Some types of documents may require for example variations inthe biasing force which move the documents outward to engage the pickermechanism. Currently if a canister has been modified to accommodate aparticular type of document the information must be visibly marked onthe canister so that it is not used for other documents.

The document dispensing canisters also are required to undergo periodicmaintenance. Such maintenance may involve replacing certain parts on thecanister that tend to wear out as documents are picked. Generallymaintenance is recommended after a certain number of cycles. Howeverwhen canisters are moved between various machines there is no way ofknowing exactly how many cycles a particular canister has experiencedsince preventive maintenance has been performed. As a result preventivemaintenance may be conducted more frequently than necessary or may notbe performed in a timely fashion. In either event unnecessary costs mayresult.

Canisters are also occasionally modified so as to improve theirperformance. Such modifications which are often referred to as upgradesmay involve changing components which are not readily visible to aperson who handles the canister. Currently the only way to indicate thata canister has been upgraded to an improved level is to physically markthe canister in a manner which is readily visible to an individualhandling it. Canister upgrades may also result in changes in performanceor operation of the canister. As a result the properties of an ATMmachine in which a canister is installed may need to be modified toaccommodate canister upgrades. If a population of canisters includesthose with and without the upgrades complications may arise becausecertain ATM machines may not be suitable for accepting upgradedcanisters while others may not be able to use canisters which have notbeen upgraded.

Thus there exists a need for a currency recycling automated bankingmachine that is more reliable, operates more quickly, and which can beused with U.S. and other currencies which have a wide range ofproperties. There further exists a need for an automated banking machineand system which includes self-auditing capabilities and which can beused to indicate when there is a discrepancy between an amount which isindicated as having been placed in a canister at a remote location andthe amount which arrives at the machine. There further exists a need foran automated banking machine in which the canisters indicate to themachine the current configuration level of the canisters and which trackthe use of the canisters to provide an indication of when preventativemaintenance is to be performed.

OBJECTS OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

It is an object of the present invention to provide a currency recyclingautomated banking machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that is reliable and that operatesmore rapidly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that works with currency notes andother documents that have a wide variety of properties.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that is capable of unstacking andseparating documents input in a stack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine that orients documents relative to a sheet path whilemoving such documents at a high rate of speed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that can transport a plurality ofdocuments in a sheet path concurrently and at a high rate of speed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that identifies documents and whichreturns unidentifiable documents to a customer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables a customer to depositdocuments into the banking machine, and after the documents have beenidentified, to elect whether to deposit the documents or to have themreturned.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that can identify depositeddocuments regardless of orientation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables selectively storingdeposited documents in storage areas in the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables selectively storingdeposited documents in removable canisters.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine that enables recovery of documentsstored in storage areas and dispensing the documents to customers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine in which documents may concurrently be transported,oriented, stored in storage areas and dispensed from other storage areaswithin the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine which has self-auditing capabilities.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine which includes removable currency canisters which have aprogrammable memory which indicates the type and number of documentsstored in storage areas in the canister.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine system which determines if the number of documentsstored in a currency canister loaded into the machine corresponds to thenumber of documents that were loaded into the canister at a remotelocation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine which includes currency canisters which indicate acurrent configuration of components of the currency canisters.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatedbanking machine which includes currency canisters which track the levelof use that the canisters have received.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a systemwhich identifies discrepancies between the amount of currency loadedinto a canister and the amount of currency in the canister when itarrives at an automated banking machine.

Further objects of the present invention will be made apparent in thefollowing Details of Exemplary Embodiments and the appended claims.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention by a currency recycling automated banking machine. Themachine includes an input/output area in which a customer may insertdocuments that are to be deposited and from which a customer withdrawingdocuments may receive documents.

A customer deposits documents in a stack. The documents are moved fromthe input/output area into a central transport. In an unstack areadocuments are removed from the stack one by one and separated into astream of single separate documents. The documents move along a documentpath in the central transport. The documents moving in the centraltransport are each deskewed to properly orient them relative to thedirection of travel along the document path. The documents are furthermoved to align them into a proper centered relation in the documentpath.

Each document is then moved past a document type identifier device whichoperates to identify the type and/or denomination of each document.Identifiable documents are directed into an escrow area whileunidentifiable documents are directed into a reject area of theinput/output area of the machine.

A customer is informed of any unidentifiable documents through input andoutput devices on the machine. Any unidentifiable documents may then bedelivered to the customer from the reject area. Alternatively, dependingon the programming of the machine such rejected documents may be storedin the machine for later analysis.

Properly identified documents are initially held in the escrow area. Theoutput devices on the machine indicate to the customer the type and/orvalue of the identifiable documents. The customer preferably is enabledto select whether to have such documents returned or to deposit suchdocuments. If the customer elects to have the documents returned, thedocuments are passed out of the input/output area and the customer'saccount is not credited for the value of the documents.

If the customer elects to deposit the documents the documents are againmoved through the central transport in a stream of rapidly movingseparated documents. The documents are again identified by theidentification device. However, rather than being routed to the rejectand escrow areas, the identified documents are now preferably routed bythe control system of the machine to selected storage locations. Thestorage locations are locations in which documents of the particulartypes are stored in the machine. The storage areas in the machine of thepreferred embodiment are areas in a plurality of removable canisters.The customer's account is then credited for the value of the depositeddocuments.

The same customer who deposited documents or a subsequent customerwishing to make a withdrawal from the machine may receive documents thathave been previously stored in the storage areas. Document dispensingmechanisms associated with the storage areas selectively removedocuments from the storage areas and route them to the central transportof the machine. As the documents move through the central transport theypass the identification device. The type and denomination of eachdocument being dispensed is verified. This assures that the initialidentification of the documents made when they were deposited in themachine is correct. This third verification assures that a customerwithdrawing documents from the machine is not given an improperdocument. The documents are removed from the storage areas concurrentlyso as to facilitate rapid operation of the machine and are controlled inmovement through the remote transport segments and the central transportto assure that they move as a stream of separated documents as they passthe identification device.

The identified documents to be dispensed to the customer are moved bythe central transport to an escrow area. From the escrow area they arepresented to the customer. The customer's account is then charged ordebited for the documents that have been withdrawn.

The document canisters are removable from the machine by authorizedpersonnel. When the canisters are removed from the machine they may beloaded with currency notes or other documents. The canisters may alsoundergo upgrades or preventative maintenance when removed from themachine. Each canister has thereon a programmable memory. The memory isprogrammed when the canister is outside the machine with informationconcerning the number and type of documents which are stored in each ofits respective storage areas. The memory also includes information onthe particular individual or entities responsible for loading documentsin the storage areas. The information is preferably input to the memoryonboard the canister using an input device and a fixture whichoperatively connects the input device and the canister.

The programmable memory onboard the canister may also receiveinformation from the input device concerning upgrades made to thecanister in the various storage areas thereof. The memory may also beprovided with information as to when preventative maintenance isperformed on various articles. Likewise if a storage area is configuredfor handling a document that has different properties from otherdocuments this information may similarly be loaded into the onboardmemory.

When the canister is placed inside the machine the memory in thecanister is in operative connection with the control system of themachine. The machine preferably operates in response to receiving thecanister to remove the documents in each of the storage areas and passthem through the central transport to the escrow area. Through thisprocess the type and denomination of each document stored in the storagearea is determined. The control system then compares this information tothe information stored in the memory onboard the canister. If theinformation stored in the canister agrees with the informationdetermined by the terminal the documents are returned to the storagelocation (or a different location in the machine) the control systemoperates to then move on to check the documents stored in the nextstorage location. This process proceeds until the contents of each newlyinserted canister is checked.

If a discrepancy is noted between the onboard canister memory and whatthe terminal determines is located in a storage area a discrepancysignal is given by the ATM. This discrepancy signal is preferablytransmitted to a remote location and informs the operator of the systemthat a discrepancy has occurred. In the preferred embodiment theinformation stored in the canister memory is often sufficient todetermine which individuals loaded and handled the canister having thediscrepancy. This enables any discrepancies to be accounted forimmediately.

The information stored in the canister memory is also used by thecontrol system to adjust the operation of the terminal to conform to thestatus information provided. For example if a particular storage area ina canister has been upgraded or otherwise changed in a manner thatrequires a different mode of operation the control system modifies theoperation of the machine accordingly when dealing with that storagearea.

As the automated banking machine operates the control system itcommunicates with the memory onboard the canister to update theinformation therein. For example as documents are added or removed fromstorage locations information representative thereof is stored in thememory. As the canister undergoes operating cycles data representativeof the number of cycles which the various components have experienced isalso recorded in the memory for purposes of calculating whenpreventative maintenance is due. These features enable the automatedbanking machine to operate more reliably and to minimize the risk ofimproper operation or loss of currency or other documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of currency recyclingautomated banking machine of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the functions performed by the machineshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the components of the centraltransport and the input/output area of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 schematically representing input of astack of documents by a customer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the input/output area shown receiving astack of documents from a customer.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the document stack after ithas been placed inside the machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing an inserteddocument stack being moved from the input/output area of the machine tothe document unstack area of the machine.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the stack moving from theinput/output area to the unstack area.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the unstack area of the machine prior toarrival of the stack.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the unstack area showing a stack ofdocuments being transported into the unstack area.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the stack of documentsmoving into position for unstacking.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the documents in position forunstacking in the unstack area.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing documents passing from theunstack area through the central transport to the reject and escrowareas of the machine.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing a document being unstackedin the unstack area.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing a document being removedfrom the stack and moving past the sensors for sensing doubles andpre-centering.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a double note being retracted intothe stack.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of a mechanism used for unstackingnotes in the unstack area.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a shuttle half which is part of adeskewing mechanism, the shuttle half being shown in a note passingposition.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing the shuttle half in a notestopping position.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a shuttle used for deskewing and centeringdocuments in the central transport.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a skewed note.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 21 showing the note beingdeskewed by the operation of the shuttle.

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 showing the note alignedtransversely to the direction of travel in the central transport but inan off center condition.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the note shown in FIG. 23 having beenmoved by the shuttle to a centered position in the central transport.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing the shuttle moving a documenttransversely to the direction of travel in the central transport.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the pre-centering and centering circuitryused in connection with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of the input/output area of the machine asdocuments are delivered from the central transport.

FIG. 28 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing unidentifiabledocuments being delivered out of the machine to a customer.

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of the input/output area showingunidentifiable documents being moved out of the machine.

FIG. 30 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 29 showing unidentifiabledocuments being routed into the machine for storage.

FIG. 31 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing documents held inescrow being routed into the central transport for storage in themachine.

FIG. 32 is a schematic view of the input/output area moving thedocuments held in the escrow area.

FIG. 33 is a schematic view showing a portion of the drive mechanism forthe drive belts in the input/output area.

FIG. 34 is an isometric schematic view of the input/output area drivemechanism.

FIG. 35 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing documents thathave been previously held in the escrow area being unstacked and passedthrough the central transport and into the machine for storage instorage areas of document storage canisters.

FIG. 36 is a schematic view of a belt and carriage roll arrangement usedfor transporting documents in the central transport of the machine.

FIG. 37 is a side view of a guide used in connection with the carriagetransport rolls.

FIG. 38 is a cross sectional side view of the carriage rolls, documentbelts and guides shown in supporting connection with a document.

FIG. 39 is a side view of a gate mechanism used for routing documentsmoving in remote transport segments, with the gate mechanism shown in aposition enabling a document to pass directly therethrough.

FIG. 40 is a side view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in acondition passing a document from the remote transport segment to acanister transport.

FIG. 41 is a view similar to FIG. 39 with the gate mechanism shownpassing a document from a canister transport into the remote transportsegment.

FIG. 42 is a view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in a conditionthat enables a document to pass from the canister transport into theremote transport segment, with the document moving in an opposeddirection from that shown in FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 with a documentpassing from the remote transport segment into the canister transportwith the document moving in an opposed direction from that shown in FIG.40.

FIG. 44 is a schematic view of an arrangement of belts and pulleysadjacent to the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39.

FIG. 45 is a schematic view of a sheet transport exemplifying theprinciples used for moving documents in the remote transport segmentsand in the canister transports.

FIG. 46 is a cross sectional schematic view showing a document moving ina transport of the type shown in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a top plan view of a lid covering a storage area within arecycling currency canister.

FIG. 48 is a side cross sectional view of a storage area in a currencycanister shown with a sheet moving towards the storage area.

FIG. 49 is a view similar to FIG. 48 showing the sheet partiallyaccepted into the storage area.

FIG. 50 is a front plan view of the feed wheels, take away wheels andthumper wheels adjacent to the storage area, with the sheet shown movinginto the storage area as shown in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a view similar to FIG. 49 with the sheet moved into thestorage area but positioned above the stack of documents held therein.

FIG. 52 is a view similar to FIG. 50 with the accepted sheet integratedinto the stack.

FIG. 53 is a view similar to FIG. 52 with the newly accepted sheet heldas part of the stack by fingers positioned adjacent to the storage area.

FIG. 54 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing the flow of sheetsfrom a storage area to an escrow area in response to a document dispenserequest input by a user.

FIG. 55 is a cross sectional view of a storage area including a stack ofsheets therein from which one sheet is to be removed as part of adispensing operation.

FIG. 56 is a view similar to FIG. 55 in which the fingers holding thestack of sheets in the storage area have been retracted to enable thesheets to engage the inner surface of the bin door.

FIG. 57 is a view similar to FIG. 56 in which the bin door is raisedwith the feed wheels and thumper wheels shown beginning to move so as topick a sheet from the stack.

FIG. 58 is a view similar to FIG. 57 showing the feed and thumper wheelsmoved to a position in which a top sheet in the stack is being removedtherefrom.

FIG. 59 is a front view of the feed wheels, thumper wheels, stripperwheel and take away wheels in engagement with a sheet as it is beingremoved from the stack in the manner shown in FIG. 58.

FIG. 60 is a view similar to FIG. 58 with the sheet shown having beenremoved from the storage area and being sensed by a doubles detector.

FIG. 61 is a top plan view of the bin door overlying a storage areashowing a sheet having been removed therefrom and moving towards a gatemechanism adjacent to the remote transport.

FIG. 62 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing a stack of sheetsthat have been dispensed from storage locations being delivered to auser of the machine.

FIG. 63 is a schematic view of the architecture of the control system ofa preferred embodiment of the machine.

FIGS. 64-68 are a simplified flow chart showing an exemplary transactionflow for a deposit transaction conducted at a currency recyclingautomated banking machine of the present invention.

FIGS. 69 and 70 are a simplified flow chart showing the transaction flowof a withdrawal transaction conducted at the machine.

FIG. 71 is a schematic view of a document canister being moved intoposition in the machine.

FIG. 72 is a top schematic view of a connector which electricallyconnects the document canister and the permanent electrical circuitry ofthe banking machine.

FIG. 73 is a schematic view of a currency canister removed from theautomated banking machine and in operative connection with a device forprogramming and reading the information in the memory of the canister.

FIG. 74 is a schematic view of a network in which automated bankingmachines of the present invention are operated.

DETAILS OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 there is showntherein a currency recycling automated banking machine of the presentinvention generally indicated 10. The machine includes a housing 12.Housing 12 includes a customer interface area generally indicated 14.Interface area 14 includes components used for communicating with a userof the machine. These components may include a display 16 which servesas an output device. The interface area may also include a keypad 18and/or a card reader 20 which serve as manually actuatable input devicesthrough which a user may input information or instructions into themachine. It should be understood that these devices are exemplary andother input and output devices such as a touch screen, display, audiospeakers, iris scan devices, fingerprint reading devices, infraredtransmitters and receivers and other devices which are capable ofreceiving or providing information may be used.

The machine also includes other devices which are indicatedschematically. Such devices may include a receipt printer 22 whichprovides receipts to customers concerning activities related to theirtransactions. Other devices indicated schematically include a journalprinter 24 for making a paper record of transactions. A passbook printer26 indicated schematically may also be included within the housing ofthe machine. A check imaging device 28 may also be included for purposesof producing electronic images of checks deposited into the machine aswell as for cancelling such checks. Such a check imaging device may beof the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,467 or other similar mechanism.

Devices 22, 24, 26 and 28 are exemplary and other devices may also beincluded in the machine such as video cameras for connecting to a remotelocation, an envelope deposit accepting mechanism, ticket printingdevices, devices for printing statements and other devices. It shouldfurther be understood that while the embodiment described herein is inthe form of an automated teller machine (ATM) the present invention maybe used in connection with other types of automated banking machines.

The machine 10 includes a control system generally indicated 30. Thecontrol system is in operative connection with the components of themachine and controls the operation thereof in accordance with programmedinstructions. Control system 30 also provides communications with othercomputers concerning transactions conducted at the machine. Suchcommunications may be provided by any suitable means, such as throughtelephone lines, wireless radio link or through a connection through aproprietary transaction network.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has the capability ofrecycling currency or other sheets or documents representative of valuereceived from a customer. For purposes of this description except whereindicated, the words documents, sheets, notes and currency are usedinterchangeably to refer to the sheet materials processed by theinvention. The process of recycling involves receiving the documents inbulk from a customer, identifying the type of documents deposited andstoring the documents in appropriate locations within the machine. Thestored documents may then be selectively retrieved and provided tocustomers who wish to withdraw funds from the machine.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes the functionalcomponents schematically indicated in FIG. 2. These functionalcomponents include an input/output function which receives documentsfrom and delivers documents to users of the machine. An unstack function34 receives documents from the input/output function 32. The unstackfunction serves to separate the documents from the stack and deliverthem into a sheet path in separate, spaced relation.

The functional components of the machine further include a deskewfunction 36. As later discussed in detail, the deskew function operatesto orient the documents so that they are properly transversely alignedwith a sheet path. An alignment function 38 further orients the movingdocuments by centering them with regard to the sheet path. After thedocuments have been aligned they are passed to an identify function 40.The identify function operates to determine the type of document passingthrough the sheet path. In the preferred embodiment the identifyfunction includes determining the type and denomination of a currencybill or other document. Also the identify function determines if adocument appears suspect or is simply not identifiable.

The identify function is linked to the input/output function so thatcustomers may have any suspect documents or identifiable documentsreturned to them, rather than be deposited in the machine. The identifyfunction is also linked to document store and recover functions 42, 44,46 and 48. The store and recover functions operate to store documents inselected locations, and to recover those documents for purposes ofdispensing the documents to a customer.

Referring again to FIG. 1 the apparatus which performs the previouslydescribed functions is shown schematically. The input/output function isperformed in an input/output area generally indicated 50. Theinput/output area is adjacent to an opening 52 in the housing of themachine. Access through opening 52 is controlled by a movable gate 54which is shown in the closed position in FIG. 1.

Input/output area 50 includes four belt type transports. These belt typetransports are devices suitable for moving a stack of sheets, andpreferably each comprise a plurality of belts such as is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 5,507,481. First belts 56 and second belts 58 bound adelivery/reject area 60 which extends vertically between the belts. Aslater explained, belts 56 and 58 are movable vertically relative to oneanother and move in coordinated relation to transport a stack of sheetswhich are positioned therebetween.

Input/output area 50 also includes third belts 62 and fourth belts 64.Third belts 62 and fourth belts 64 vertically bound an escrow areagenerally indicated 66. Belts 62 and 64 are similar to belts 56 and 58and are capable of moving a stack of documents therebetween. The beltsin the input/output area, as well as gate 54, are driven by appropriatemotors schematically indicated 68 which are operated by the controlsystem 30. The input/output area can be operated in various modes,examples of which will be discussed hereafter. FIG. 3 shows theinput/output area 50 in greater detail.

The input/output area communicates with a central transport generallyindicated 70. Central transport 70 includes an unstack area generallyindicated 72. The unstack area includes a tray 74 which is suitable formoving a stack of documents thereon. Unstack area 72 further includestransport belts 76 and pick belts 78. As later explained in detail, theunstack area operates to separate documents and deliver them in spacedrelation into the document path of the central transport.

The deskew operation also includes doubles sensors 80 for use indetecting instances of double documents which have been removed from astack in the unstack area. These documents can be separated in a mannerlater discussed. Pre-centering sensors are also provided in associationwith the unstack operation, which sensors operate to assure that thedeskew and alignment operations can be performed properly.

From the unstack area sheets are transported to a deskew and centeringdevice 84. Deskew and centering device 84 performs the functions ofaligning sheets transversely to a sheet path. It also performs thefunction of moving the sheets so that they are centered relative to thesheet path through the central transport.

From the deskew and centering device, documents change direction bybeing turned on carriage rolls 86 and are moved past an identificationdevice 88. Identification device 88 is preferably of the type shown inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/749,260 filed Nov. 15, 1996 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,923,413) which is owned by the Assignee of the presentinvention, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. In alternative embodiments, other types of identificationdevices may be used. The identification devices preferably identify thetype and character of passing note. The identification device alsopreferably distinguishes genuine documents such as genuine currencybills from unidentifiable or suspect documents.

From the identification device, documents are moved selectively inresponse to the position of divert gates schematically indicated 90. Thedivert gates operate under the control of the control system to directdocuments either to the delivery/reject area 60, the escrow area 66 orinto the document storage and recovery areas of the machine.

The document storage and recovery areas include recycling canisters 92,94, 96 and 98, which are later described in detail. The recyclingcanisters are preferably removable from the machine by authorizedpersonnel. Each of the recycling canisters shown include four storageareas therein. These are represented by storage areas 100, 102, 104 and106 in canister 94. The storage areas provide locations for storingdocuments that have satisfactorily passed through the central transport.Documents are preferably stored in the storage areas with documents ofthe same type. Documents stored in the storage areas can later beremoved therefrom one at a time and delivered to other customers.

Documents are moved to the canisters through remote transport segmentsgenerally indicated 108, 110, 112 and 114. The remote transport segmentsare preferably arranged in aligned relation such that documents may bepassed between the transport segments. Each remote transport segment hasa media gate mechanism associated therewith. The media gates generallyindicated 116, 118, 120 and 122 operate in a manner later explained toselectively direct documents from the remote document segments intoconnection with adjacent canister delivery transports indicated 124,126, 128 and 130. The canister transports operate in a manner laterexplained, to move documents to and from the storage areas in thecanisters.

It should be appreciated that the various components which comprise thegates, transports and storage areas have associated motors and sensors,all of which are in operative connection with the control system 30 forpurposes of sensing and controlling the movement of documentstherethrough.

It should also be noted that in the preferred embodiment of theinvention a dump area generally indicated 132 is provided within thehousing of the machine at the bottom of the remote transport segments.Dump area 132 functions as a receptacle for documents that aredetermined not to be suitable for handling or which are otherwise deemednot suitable for later recovery and dispensing to a customer. In thepreferred embodiment dump area 132 comprises a tray which can be movedoutward on the housing of the machine to facilitate cleaning and removalof documents when the interior of the machine is accessed.

The operation of the currency recycling automated banking machine willnow be explained through an example of the operative steps and functionscarried out in connection with a deposit transaction by a customer. Itshould be understood that this is only an example of one manner in whichthe machine may be operated. Other methods of operation and functionsmay be achieved based on the programming of the machine.

The transaction flow for the deposit transaction is shown in FIGS.64-68. A customer approaching the machine 10 operates the components inthe customer interface area 14 to enable operation of the machine. Thismay include for example insertion of a credit or debit card and theinput of a personal identification number (PIN). Of course other stepsmay be required by the customer to identify themselves to the machine.This may include other modes of operation such as finger printidentification or biometric type devices. These steps which the customergoes through to identify themselves to the machine is represented inFIG. 64 by the customer ID sequence which is indicated 134.

After the customer identifies themselves to the machine, the machine isprogrammed to proceed through the main transaction sequence generallyindicated 136. This main transaction sequence preferably provides thecustomer with a menu of the various transaction options that areavailable to be conducted at the machine 10. The transaction flowproceeds in FIG. 64 from a step 138 in which a customer chooses toconduct a deposit transaction which involves the input of documents,such as currency bills or notes.

When the customer indicates that they intend to make a deposit themachine next executes a step 140. In step 140 an inner gate indicated142 in FIGS. 4 and 5 moves to block further access to the interior ofthe machine from delivery/reject area 60. After the inner gate 142 isextended, the program next executes a step 144 in which the front gate54 on the machine is moved to uncover opening 52. In this position acustomer is enabled to insert a stack of documents indicated 146 in FIG.5 into the delivery/reject area 60 between belts 58 and 56. As shown inFIG. 5, belts 58 and 56 may also be run inwardly to help to position thestack 146 against the inner gate 142.

As shown in FIG. 6, delivery/receipt sensors 148, 150 are positionedinside the housing of the machine adjacent to opening 52. In thetransaction flow, as shown in FIG. 64, a step 152 is executed todetermine if the deposit stack 146 has been moved past the sensors. Adetermination is made at a step 154 as to whether the sensors are clear.If sensors 148 and 150 are not clear, a step 154 is carried out. In step154 efforts are made to clear the sensors. This is done by running thetransport belts 56 and 58 inward at a step 156 and prompting thecustomer at step 158 to input their deposit. A check is then made againto see if the sensors have cleared. Provisions are made in thetransaction flow so that after a number of tries to clear the sensors,the transport belts 56 and 58 are run in reverse to remove anything thathas been input into the machine, and the gate 54 is closed.

If however the sensors 148 and 150 are clear indicating that a stack ofdocuments has been properly inserted, the transaction flow moves to astep 160 in which the front gate 54 is again closed as shown in FIG. 6.The transaction flow then moves on to a step 162 in which the inner gate142 is retracted so that the stack 146 can be further processed in themanner hereafter described.

The stack is next moved as schematically shown in FIG. 7 from thedelivery/reject area 60 to the unstack area 72. This is accomplished asshown in FIG. 65 by moving a carriage which supports fourth belts 64upwards in the input/output area 50 as shown in FIG. 8. The carriage forbelts 64 is moved upward to engage a carriage supporting belts 62 and 58and to move it upward as well. The carriages move upward until stack 146is sandwiched between belts 56 and 58. This is represented by step 164in FIG. 65. Belts 58 and 56 are then driven to move the stack inwardlytoward the unstack area 72.

The unstack area 72 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 9. It includestransport belts 76 and pick belts 78, which are independently operableby motors or other suitable driving devices. A strip back stop 166 ismovably positioned in the area between transport belts 76 and belts 168on tray 74. It should be understood that belts 76, 78 and 168 arearranged to be in intermediate relation when the tray 74 is movedadjacent thereto in a manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,481 thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Unstack area 72 includes an unstack wall 170. Unstack wall 170 includesa plurality of steps 172 thereon, the purpose of which is laterexplained. Unstack wall 170 includes therein a plurality of generallyvertically extending slots (not shown). Tray 74 includes a plurality oftray projections 174 which extend from an upper surface of the tray andinto the slots. Adjacent to pick belt 78 are contact stripper wheelsindicated 176 and non-contact stripper wheels 178, the function of whichis later explained.

In operation of the machine the stack 146 is moved into the unstack areafor unstacking. This is represented by a step 180 in FIG. 65. As shownin FIG. 10, in the step of moving the stack 146 into the unstack area,the tray 174 is moved sufficiently away from the transport belts 76 sothat stack 146 may be moved therebetween. The backstop 166 is raised toallow entry of the stack. Transport belts 76 and tray belts 168 moveforward so that stack 146 moves towards unstack wall 170. In thepreferred form of the invention tray 74 is spring biased upwards andonce stack 146 is moved therebetween the stack is held between belts 168on tray 74 and transport belts 76 and pick belts 78 by the biasing forceacting on the tray.

As shown in FIG. 11, once the stack 146 moves past the backstop 166, thebackstop is lowered to be in position behind the stack. As laterdiscussed, the backstop is particularly useful when stripping doublenotes which may be picked during the unstack operation. As shown in FIG.11 belts 78 are further run in the forward direction to move stack 146towards wall 170. As shown in FIG. 12 when the stack is fully movedagainst the wall 170, the steps 172 on the wall tend to splay the sheetsin the stack. This splaying of the sheets tends to break the surfacetension between the adjacent sheets and facilitates the separation ofeach adjacent sheet from one another. It should be noted that the steps172 are configured in a progression so that the engagement of the sheetsin the stack 146 with the steps 172 do not interfere with the movementof tray 74 upward as sheets are removed from the stack. This enablestray 74 to apply a continuous upward biasing force such that the uppermost sheet in the stack engages pick belts 78.

Referring again to the transaction flow in FIG. 65, once the stack hasbeen moved to the unstack position a check is made at a step 182 toverify the presence of bills in the unstack area. Assuming that billsare properly in position the flow then moves to an unstack routine at astep 184. As later explained in detail, the control system 30 of thepresent invention is a novel type control system which facilitates therapid operation of the machine. As represented by phantom step 186 thecontrol system operates to perform tasks concurrently. As a result,rather than unstacking a single note in the manner hereafter describedand then waiting for it to be processed, the preferred embodiment of thecontrol system 30 unstacks a note and as soon as that note has left theunstack area, proceeds to unstack another note. This enables providing astream of separated sheets which are concurrently moving in the centraltransport under control of the control system. This greatly speeds theoperation of the machine.

The operation of the machine in the unstack operation is schematicallyrepresented in FIG. 13. As shown therein, the stack 146 in the unstackarea 72 is separated into single sheets which are moved through thecentral transport 70 in the direction of Arrows C. The notes are thenselectively directed for reasons later explained by divert gates 90 intoeither the delivery/reject area 60 or the escrow area 66.

The operation of the machine to unstack sheets in the unstack area 72 isexplained with reference to FIGS. 14-17. The stack 146 is biased upwardsagainst the pick belts 78 by the tray 74. The lower flight of belts 78,which is engaged with the top sheet in the stack, is moved towards theleft in FIG. 14 to pick a sheet 188. As shown in FIG. 17 the pick belts78 are supported on rollers and extend beyond the outer circumference ofabutting non-contract stripper wheels 178. Contact stripper wheels 176are arranged in generally abutting relation opposite the inner two stripbelts 78. As the strip belts move to the left, as shown in FIG. 14, thecontact stripper wheels and non-contact stripper wheels 176 and 178 donot move. This serves to keep sheets other than the top sheet in thestack.

Referring again to FIG. 14, if the sheet 188 that is moved from thestack is a single sheet, this condition is sensed by the doubles sensors80. This means that the sheet is suitable for movement in the centraltransport. The sheet then moves past the doubles sensors 80 into thevicinity of take away rolls 190, 192. In response to the sheet beingsensed as a single sheet, take away roll 192 moves from the positionshown in phantom to the position shown in solid lines in which whereinit is in engagement with the sheet 188. The take away rolls 192, 190 aredriven in the directions indicated to move the sheet away from thestack. The driving of the take away rolls is timed by the control system30 to assure that sheet 188 is properly spaced a distance from theproceeding unstacked sheet moving through the central transport.

As shown in FIG. 15 sheet 188 is moved by take away rolls 190 and 192past pre-centering sensors 82. The pre-centering sensors operate in amanner later described to sense the position of the edges of the sheet.The signals from the pre-centering sensors 82 are used by the controlsystem 30 to move a shuttle which is associated with deskewing andcentering operations for the sheet. The control system moves the shuttletransversely in the transport path to a position in which it is enabledto catch the moving sheet in the manner that will enable the sheet to bealigned. This is particularly valuable when the sheets which are removedfrom the stack are of different sizes.

It should be understood that while the U.S. has currency which is thesame size for all denominations, other countries use different sizeddocuments for various currency types. It is a fundamental advantage ofthe present invention that the documents inserted by a user need not bearranged so that the documents are all of the same size, nor do thedocuments need to be oriented in any particular direction in order to behandled by the preferred embodiment of the invention. The unstackingmechanism of the preferred embodiment is particularly well adapted tounstacking the sheets having various sizes and which may not necessarilybe positioned so as to be in alignment with the wall 170, particularlyfor the sheets in the middle of the stack 146.

In the event that a double bill is sensed by doubles sensors 80, thebills can be separated. A double bill is indicated in FIG. 16 by sheets194 which for purposes of this example, are considered to be twooverlapped sheets. To separate these sheets pick belts 78 are stoppedand tray 74 is moved downward so that the stack 146 is no longer biasedagainst the lower flights of pick belts 78.

Pick belts 78 are then run backwards such that the lower flight thereofis moved to the right as shown. This pulls sheets 194 back into thestack. The contact stripper wheels 176 and the non-contact stripperwheels also rotate to facilitate pulling the sheets back into the stack.This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by having the stripperwheels operated by a one way clutch. The stripper wheels may rotatefreely in the direction shown in FIG. 16, but may not rotate in theopposed direction. The movement of belts 78 pulls the sheets 194 backinto the stack. The strip backstop operates to prevent the sheets frommoving too far and falling out of the stack.

Once the sheets 194 are returned to the top of the stack the tray 74 isagain raised and a picking operation is attempted. Generally one or morerepeated attempts to strip the sheets will be successful such thatsheets are continuously removed from the stack 146 one by one.

The transaction flow associated with the sensing of doubles and effortsto strip the top sheet are represented in FIG. 65. In a step 196 adetermination is made as to whether a double has been sensed during theunstack routine. If so, the step associated with lowering the stack 198is executed. The pick belts are moved in reverse in a step 200 to pullthe doubles back into the stack and the stack is then raised at a step202. As previously discussed, the unstack routine is then started again.Of course if doubles are not sensed when a sheet is picked, the sheetmoves past the pre-centering sensors 82 and the transverse position ofthe note in the transport is sensed at a step 204.

After a document passes the pre-centering sensors, it then moves to thedeskew and aligning device 84. This device is adapted to catch a movingsheet and align its leading edge transversely to the direction of travelof the sheet in the sheet path. Once the leading edge of the sheet hasbeen transversely aligned the device 84 operates to move the sheet sothat its center line is in alignment with the center line of thetransport path. Doing this enables the document to be more rapidlyidentified for reasons which are later explained.

As shown in FIG. 20 the deskew and alignment device includes a shuttleindicated 204. The shuttle is comprised of a pair of shuttle halves 206and 208. Each shuttle half is connected to a drive shaft 210 whichoperates to move pinch wheels 212 and 214 on the shuttle halves in themanner hereafter explained. The shuttle 204 is also movable transverselyon drive shaft 210. The shuttle also includes a first sensor 216adjacent to shuttle half 206 and a second sensor 218 adjacent to shuttlehalf 208. The shuttle also includes a middle sensor 220. The pinch rollsengage a segmented idler shaft 222.

Referring to FIG. 18, shuttle half 206 is schematically shown therein.The shuttle half includes a solenoid 224. Solenoid 224 is connected to amovable brake rod 226 which is movable on pins 228. The pinch wheel 212revolves around a center pin 230. The center pin 230 is movably mountedin a slot 232 on the body of the shuttle half 206.

The drive shaft 210 is a splined type shaft as shown. The shaft 210extends through a drive wheel 234 which is mounted for rotation on thebody of the shuttle half 206.

As shown in FIG. 18 when the solenoid 224 is not energized the pinchwheel 212 is biased into engagement with the drive wheel 234 by a springschematically indicated 236. The pinch wheel 212 rotates in response torotation of the drive shaft 210. The rotation of the pinch wheel 212also engages the independently rotatable segments of the segmented shaft222. Documents are enabled to pass through the nip between pinch wheels212 and 222 in response to rotation of pinch roll 212 by the drive wheel234.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the solenoid 224 is energized the brake rod226 moves. The movement of the brake rod causes the brake rod to engagepinch wheel 212. As the brake rod engages the pinch wheel, the pinchwheel is displaced from the drive wheel 234 and is prevented from movinguntil the solenoid is again de-energized and the brake rod is retracted.As a result, any document that is positioned in the nip between pinchroll 212 and segmented shaft 222 when the solenoid is energized, will bestopped in this position. The documents is prevented from moving in thearea of the nip until the solenoid is de-energized.

The operation of the shuttle is schematically indicated in FIGS. 21-24.As shown in FIG. 21 a sheet or document 238 is shown moving in thedirection of the arrow in the sheet path. The shuttle is moved prior toarrival of the sheet in a transverse direction on the drive shaft 210 sothat pinch rolls 212 and 214 will both engage the sheet. This is done bythe control system 30 based on the signals from the pre-centeringsensors 82 which are upstream of the shuttle 204. The shuttle is movedtransversely in the sheet path by a fast acting motor or other suitabledevice.

In response to the sheet 238 moving into the area adjacent to the pinchrolls, the sensors 216, 218 and 220 sense the sheet. Because the samplesheet 238 is skewed, the sensor adjacent to pinch roll 214 which issensor 218, will sense the leading edge of the sheet first. When thisoccurs, the solenoid associated with the shuttle half 208 energizes,stopping movement of pinch roll 214, while roll 212 continues to rotatein response to rotation of shaft 210. As a result, sheet 238 begins torotate about the pinch point 240 created between the stationary roll 214and segmented shaft 222. Sheet 238 moves such that its leading edge 242begins to move into an aligned condition in a direction transverse tothe direction of sheet movement.

As shown in FIG. 23, sheet 238 rotates about pinch point 240 untilleading edge 242 is transversely aligned with the sheet path. When analigned condition is reached, the solenoid 224 is energized to stopmovement of pinch roll 212. This produces a second pinch point 244between the note 238 and the idler shaft 222.

In the stopped condition of the note shown in FIG. 23, the leading edge242 of the sheet extends in the sheet path beyond centering sensors,generally indicated 246. The centering sensors are operative to sensethe side edges of the sheet indicated 248 and 250 in FIG. 23, in amanner hereinafter described. Upon sensing the side edges the controlsystem 30 determines the position of a center line of the sheet 238.This center line is indicated schematically in FIG. 23 as 252. Theshuttle then moves the sheet transversely in the manner indicated inFIG. 25. The sheet is moved in engaged relation between the pinch rolls212 and 214 and the segmented idler shaft 222. As shown in FIG. 24,sheet 238 is moved to the right such that the sheet center line 252 isin alignment with a center line of the transport path 254.

Once the sheet has been deskewed in this manner and has been moved intoa centered relation in the transport path, the solenoids operating thepinch rolls 212 and 214 are released simultaneously to discharge thesheet 238 from the shuttle. This is done in the manner which assuresthat sheet 238 is properly spaced from a preceding sheet. Optimally thesheet is not delayed any longer than is absolutely necessary to assurethat the sheet is properly oriented.

The schematic view of the components of the centering circuit which isused in connection with the centering sensors 246 and the pre-centeringsensors 82 is schematically indicated in FIG. 26. In the preferredembodiment of the invention the sensors 246 are charged coupled devices(CCDs) which are used for sensing edges of the sheet. An emitter isprovided on an opposed side of devices for providing a radiation sourcefor sensing the edges of the sheet. Signals from the sensors 246 aretransmitter to an amplifier 256. Signals from the amplifier areforwarded to a digitizing comparator 258. The digitizing comparator isprovided with a threshold input from an interface 260.

A trip point output from the interface 260 is determined by a softwareroutine that adjust the threshold input for the presence of a note basedon the radiation received by the sensors when no note is present. Thisenables adjusting the sensors for changes during the operation of thedevice, such as changes in the intensity of the emitters or accumulationof dirt on the emitters or sensors.

The output from the digitizing comparator is transmitted to aprogrammable logic device 262. The programmable logic device determinesthe position of the edge of the note and transmits output signals alongwith timer signals to a processor 264. The processor generates signalsin accordance with its programming to move the shuttle to the desiredposition. In the case of the pre-centering sensors, the shuttle is movedto a position to ensure that it encounters the note. In the case of thecentering and deskew operation sensors the shuttle is moved to assurethat the note is moved to align it with the center of the transport. Thetiming signals also track when the leading and trailing edges of thenote encounter the sensors to enable the control system to maintainproper separation of the notes within the central transport. The signalsfrom the sensors 246, as well as those from sensors 216, 218 and 220 onthe shuttle, are used to assure that a note which has been released fromthe shuttle moves away in the proper coordinated fashion.

The logic flow associated with the deskew and alignment operations isshown with reference to the steps shown in FIG. 65. As indicated by astep 266, the signals from the pre-center sensors 82 are used to movethe shuttle to assure that it engages the note. A deskewing step 268operates in the manner already described to align a leading edge of thenote so that it extends transversely to the direction of sheet movementin the transport. At a step 270 the center line of the sheet is movedinto alignment with the center line of the sheet transport. The sheethaving been deskewed and aligned, it is released at a step 272 in atimed manner and continues on its way in the sheet path.

As shown in FIG. 13, after a document leaves the deskew and alignmentdevice the document moves through the area of the central transportwhere it is sensed by various sensors associated with the identificationdevice 88. In the preferred form of the invention the identificationdevice is of a type shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/749,260filed Nov. 15, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,413) which is incorporatedherein. This identification device is suitable for identifying the typeand denomination of a passing document. It also is suitable fordistinguishing genuine documents from suspect documents. An advantage ofthe device used in the preferred embodiment is its ability to identify adocument despite the failure of the document to be in alignment with thesheet path. It should be understood that because of variable conditions,despite efforts made to orient the sheet, sheets may still be somewhatout of alignment at the time of analysis by the identification device.Of course in other embodiments, other devices for identifying sheets maybe used.

The analysis of the note by the identification device 88 producessignals. These signals may be indicative of the note type anddenomination. Alternatively, the signals may be indicative that the notecannot be satisfactorily identified or are invalid. These signals aretransmitted to the control system 30 which operates the divert gates 90adjacent to the central transport. As shown in FIG. 27, in a preferredembodiment of the invention, documents which cannot be identified with ahigh degree of confidence are routed by gates 90 to the delivery/rejectarea 60 and are supported on second belts 58. Such rejected notes arerepresented in FIG. 27 by a stack 274.

Identified documents suitable for deposit are routed by divert gate 90into the escrow area 66 where such notes are supported on belts 64. Suchidentified documents are represented in FIG. 27 by stack 276. It shouldbe understood that the routing of identified sheets to the escrowposition 266 is optional depending on the programming of the controlsystem 30 of the machine. Identifiable notes may be directly routed toappropriate storage areas for recovery.

The transaction flow associated with the analysis of the documents androuting to the reject/delivery and escrow areas is represented in FIG.66. The analysis of the moving documents is represented by a step 278.If the note is properly identified in a step 280, a check is next madeat a step 282 to determine if the machine is in a deposit mode. If soproperly identified notes are routed to storage locations in therecycling canisters. If the machine is not currently in a deposit mode,which is the case with the example described, properly identified notesare routed to the escrow position in a step 284.

If in step 280 a note is not identifiable or is identified asunacceptable the note is routed to the reject position in a step 286. Ofcourse it should be understood that the unstacking, pre-centering,deskewing, aligning and note identifying steps are all ongoingconcurrently as each document passes through the central transport. Thenotes are continuously being directed to the escrow or reject positionsuntil the stack of notes has been completely unstacked.

In the operation of the invention of the preferred embodiment,unidentifiable sheets, sheets which are unacceptable and sheets whichappear suspect are returned to the customer from the input/output area50. This is schematically represented in FIG. 28 which shows the rejectstack 274 being delivered to the customer through the opening 52. Thisis normally done by the machine after displaying to the customer,through the interface 14, information on the number of documents whichwere unidentifiable or unacceptable in the deposit stack that theysubmitted. The customer would also be advised of the value of thedocuments that have been properly identified. In alternative embodimentsthe customer may be given the option through an input to the customerinterface to retry the rejected sheets to determine if they can beidentified. If this occurs, the machine may be programmed to run thereject stack 274 back through the central transport in the mannerpreviously done with the deposited stack. This is a matter of choice inthe programming of the machine and depends on the preferences of theoperator of the machine.

Assuming that the reject stack 274 is to be returned to the customer,the reject stack is delivered to the customer in the manner indicated inFIG. 29. The inner gate 142 is extended while the carriage supportingbelts 64 are raised so that stack 276 engages the carriage supportingbelts 62 and 58. Belts 58 are raised such that the reject stack engagesbelts 56. As reject stack 274 is sandwiched between belts 56 and 58 thegate 54 is opened. The reject stack 274 is moved by belts 56 and 58 outthrough opening 52 in the housing of the machine. The delivery andreceipt sensors 148, 150 adjacent to opening 52 are operative to sensemovement of the stack.

The transaction flow associated with the delivery of the reject stack tothe customer is represented in FIG. 66. In a step 288, a determinationis made as to whether notes are present in a reject stack after all thesheets have been unstacked and passed through the central transport. Ifso, the reject stack is moved to the delivery position in step 290. Theinner gate is closed in a step 292, as shown in FIG. 29. The front gateis then opened at a step 294 and the belts are driven to deliver thereject stack to the customer at a step 296.

As shown in FIG. 67, the customer may then be prompted to take thereject stack at a step 298. This is done through the customer interface.The sensors 148 and 150 are then monitored at a step 300 and a decisionis made at a step 302 as to whether the reject sheets have been taken.If the sheets have been taken the front gate 54 of the machine is closedat a step 304 and the inner gate is retracted at a step 306.

As previously discussed, in the described embodiment of the inventionthe customer is required to take the reject sheets. Therefore if at step302 the customer has not taken the sheets, the transport is operated topush the sheets out the opening 52 in a step 308. After the transporthas been run sufficiently to push the sheets out, the front gate isclosed.

In alternative embodiments of the invention the customer may have theoption of having the reject stack retried to determine if the documentscan be identified. In other alternative embodiments the machine may beprogrammed not to return unidentifiable or rejected sheets to thecustomer. This may be done for purposes such as to prevent potentiallycounterfeit sheets from being placed back in circulation. If the machineis programmed in this manner the reject stack 274 may be moved in themanner shown in FIG. 30 back into the unstack area of the machine for afurther pass through the central transport. In this second pass thesheets may either be again returned to the reject area if they cannot beidentified; placed in the escrow area if they may be identified; oralternatively, passed into a storage location in the recycling canistersor dump area 132 for later analysis. Because the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is capable of tracking individual sheets which arepassed through the machine, it is possible for the machine to trackwhere particular sheets originated based on their storage location andposition within a storage location.

Returning to the operation of the described embodiment, the stack 276held in the escrow position is now moved upward in the input/output areaas indicated in FIG. 31. At this point the customer may have the optionof receiving the identifiable sheets that they have deposited back. Thismay be done for example if the customer does not agree with the count ofthe sheets by the machine. This may be accomplished by programming themachine so that the customer can obtain return of the documents inescrow by an appropriate input to the interface.

If the machine is programmed to deposit the identified documents held inescrow, the machine moves the document stack 276 in a manner shown inFIG. 31. Alternatively, the escrow stack will be moved in the mannershown in FIG. 31 if the machine requires a customer input to deposit theescrow documents and such an input is given through the customerinterface.

When the escrow stack 276 is to be deposited in the machine, belt 64 israised to the position shown in FIG. 32 and the escrow stack 276 issandwiched between belts 62 and 64. The belts are then driven to movethe escrow stack 276 into the unstack area of the machine in the mannerpreviously described.

The operation of the drive rolls and movable belt carriages of theinput/output area 50 are described in greater detail in FIGS. 33 and 34.The carriage associated with belts 64 is moved upward and downward by adriving mechanism. The carriage supporting belts 62 and 58 is freefloating but is restricted in the degree to which it may move downward.The carriage supporting belts 56 may rotatably conform to the positionof an adjacent stack but is generally prevented from moving downward.This configuration minimizes the complexity of the input/outputmechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carriage supportingbelts 64, 62 and 68 are guided to move vertically by a first guide/driveshaft 310 and a second guide/drive shaft 312. The guide/drive shafts notonly extend generally vertically, but also are splined shafts that arerotatable by suitable transmission mechanisms in the directions shown.Movable journal guide blocks 314 and 316 are movable vertically on shaft310. Each journal guide block represented by guide block 314 in FIG. 33includes bevel gears 318. The bevel gears operate to transmit rotationalmotion from the guide/drive shaft 310 to shafts 320 and 322. Shafts 320,322 include rollers upon which belts 56 and 58 are supportedrespectively.

Journal guide blocks 324 and 326 are movable on shaft 312. As indicatedin FIG. 33 by journal guide block 324, the journal guide block includesbevel gears 328 which operate to transmit rotational motion of thedrive/guide shaft 312 to shafts 330 and 332. Belts 62 and 64 aresupported on rolls which are driven by shafts 330 and 332 respectively.

As should be appreciated, this arrangement for driving the belts in theinput/output area reduces complexity compared to other arrangements.This arrangement also increases flexibility for selectively positioningstacks of documents.

Returning to the sample transaction flow with the escrow stack 276 inthe position shown in FIG. 31, the transaction flow proceeds in themanner indicated in FIG. 67. As indicated in a step 334, the escrowstack is moved upwards so that it is in a position to either bedelivered to the customer or to be moved back into the unstack position.The customer operating the machine is then prompted at a step 336 toindicate whether they wish to have the escrow stack returned to them orto deposit the amount in the escrow stack into the machine. As indicatedby a step 338, if the customer chooses to have the stack returned ratherthan deposited, the machine proceeds to return the stack to thecustomer.

The process of returning the stack is indicated through the transactionflow represented in FIG. 68. At this point in the transaction flow theescrow stack 276 is adjacent to opening 52, and may be readily deliveredto the customer. The inner gate is closed at a step 340 and the frontgate is opened at a step 342. Belts 62 and 64 are then driven to movethe escrow stack outward to present it to the customer at a step 344. Adetermination is made at a step 346 whether the customer has taken thestack. This is based on signals from the sensors 148 and 150. If theescrow stack is sensed as taken the machine returns to the main ATMtransaction sequence at a step 348.

If the customer does not take the stack, steps are executed to encouragethe customer to take the stack, or to retract it into the machine. Ifthe stack is not sensed as taken in step 346, the customer is promptedthrough the interface of the machine at a step 350 to take the stack. Ifthe stack is now sensed as taken, a step 352 returns the machine to themain sequence. If however the stack is still not taken, the transactionflow proceeds through steps 354 and 356 in which the stack is recoveredand stored, and an irregular transaction is noted. This may occur forexample by retracting the stack into the machine, closing the gate, andthen passing the stack through the central transport to one of thestorage areas.

Alternative forms of the invention may provide for crediting thecustomer's account for amounts which they indicated they wished to havereturned but did not take. If the machine is programmed to operate inthis manner the documents in the escrow stack will be stored accordingto their type and denomination in the various storage areas in therecycling canisters. Alternatively, the documents in the escrow stackmay be stored separately in one of the storage areas. The machine may beprogrammed to allow the customer to return at a later time and obtainthe documents in the escrow stack. This may be valuable for example ifthe customer forgets to take the stack or is distracted while performingtheir transaction.

In most cases when a customer has deposited documents in the machine,they will choose to have the funds credited to their account. As aresult, in the transaction flow at step 338 they will indicate throughthe customer interface that they wish to make a deposit. The transactionflow moves through a step 358 in which the machine is set to depositmode. Thereafter the escrow stack 276 is moved to the unstack area at astep 360. This is done in the manner previously described for thedeposited stack.

As shown schematically in FIG. 35, the escrow stack will now beunstacked in the manner previously discussed. However, now instead ofthe unstacked bills being routed by the divert gate 90 to the escrowarea and delivery/reject area, the bills are selectively routed downwardin the machine as shown, to the various storage areas in the recyclingcanisters. During this operation each of the unstacked bills is againidentified by the bill identification apparatus 88. The identificationof the bill type is used to selectively route each document to thestorage area where documents of that type are stored. It should also beunderstood that the internal memory of the machine is preferablyprogrammed to record the type of document held in the escrow stack andto compare the document type determination made in the initial pass tothe type determination made in the second pass. In the event of an erroror inconsistency, the divert gate 90 may be used to route any irregulardocuments to the delivery/reject area 60 instead of moving them downinto a storage location in the machine.

As can be appreciated with the transaction flow beginning at step 358 inFIG. 67, the escrow stack undergoes the unstacking process previouslydescribed in connection with steps 184, 196 and 204. Each note is alsodeskewed and centered with regard to the transport path and thenreleased.

The note undergoes analysis in the manner discussed in connection withstep 278 and if the note is properly identified in step 280, thetransaction flow moves to a step 262 when the machine is in the depositmode. In step 262 each note is dispatched to an appropriate storagelocation. Notes are moved through this central transport in thedirection of Arrows “D” shown in FIG. 35. Each note is then routed to anappropriate storage location at a step 264. It should be appreciatedthat notes are moving concurrently toward different storage locationsunder the control of the control system. FIG. 35 shows an example of anote being deposited in storage area 102. It should be understoodhowever that notes may be moved into numerous storage areas during thedeposit process.

The notes in the stack 276 continue to be unstacked until the stack isdetermined to be depleted at a step 266. Assuming that no notes havebeen rejected during the deposit process, the transaction flow may thenreturn to the main ATM transaction sequence at a step 268. The customermay be provided with a receipt for their deposit and may continue withother transactions.

In the operation of the central transport 70 there are places in whichmoving notes must undergo generally 180 degree turns. One example ofthis is indicated by transport section 370 which is shown in FIG. 35. Intransport section 370, documents that have been aligned in the transportpath have their direction reversed so that they can be passed adjacentto the identification device 88. Transport section 370 requires that thebills be transported accurately and maintain their spaced alignedrelation. The documents are also preferably not crumpled or otherwisedistorted, as this may adversely impact their ability to be identifiedin the following section. More details regarding transport section 370are shown in FIGS. 36-38.

Transport section 370 includes a plurality of belts 372. These belts inthe preferred embodiment are V-type belts that engage driving and idlingrolls 374, 376 and 378. In the preferred form of the invention the “V”cross section of belts 372 is pointed radially inward as the belt passesrolls 374, 376 and 378.

As belts 372 move between rolls 374 and 376 they are supported oncarriage rolls 380. The carriage rolls 380 support the belt in a mannersuch that the “V” section is pointed away from the carriage rolls. Aflat top surface of each belt is positioned adjacent to an annulardimple 382 on the outer circumference of each carriage roll. Carriagerolls 380 are also spaced from one another. Guides 384 which generallyhave a somewhat lesser diameter than the carriage rolls are positionedin between. An example of a guide 384 is shown in greater detail in FIG.37.

When a note 386 passes through transport section 370 it is held betweenthe flat surfaces of belt 372 and dimples 382 of the carriage rolls asshown in FIG. 38. The notes move around the carriage rolls without beingskewed or distorted. When the notes are passed to the area adjacent toroll 376 projections 388 on the guides urge the note away fromengagement with the carriage rolls and in the desired direction.

This configuration is used in a preferred embodiment of the invention asit has been found that notes may generally be transported through thetransport section 370 without adversely impacting their aligned andseparated relation. The ability to turn the note path 180 degrees alsogreatly reduces the overall size of the automated banking machine.

As shown in FIG. 35 notes which are passed through the central transport70, and which are moved to storage areas within the machine, passdownward through the central transport through remote transport segments108, 110, 112 and 114. These remote transport segments operate as partof a remote transport. The remote transport segments are verticallyaligned in the preferred embodiment so as to enable documents to beselectively transported between the transport segments. The transportsegments also enable documents to be selectively directed either throughthe transport segments or into or out of the adjacent canistertransports, one of which is positioned adjacent to each transportsegment. The selective directing of documents is achieved through use ofa media gate associated with each transport segment which is operatedunder the control of the control system 30.

An example of a transport segment used in a preferred embodiment of theinvention is indicated by transport segment 110 shown in FIG. 39.Transport segment 110 includes a plurality of spaced belt supportingrolls 390, 392. Each of the rolls support a belt 394 thereon (see FIG.44). An inner flight 396 of each belt 394 is positioned adjacent to afirst sheet supporting surface 398 and a second sheet supporting surface400. The sheet supporting surfaces each include a plurality of spacedraised projections or dimples thereon. These raised projections serve tobreak surface tension and minimize the risk of documents stickingthereon.

The principles of operation of transport segment 110 as well as thecanister transport used in the preferred embodiment, can be appreciatedwith reference to FIGS. 45 and 46. The transports operate by holdingdocuments in engaged relation between an outer surface of a belt flightand projections which extend toward the belt flight from an adjacentsupporting surface. In the example shown in FIG. 45, belt flights 402extend adjacent to a supporting surface 404. Projections 406 extendtransversely between the belt flights from the supporting surface. Adocument 408 which is engaged between the belt flights and thesupporting surface is biased by the projections 406 to remain engagedwith the belt flights. This enables movement of the belt flights toaccurately move the document 408 in engaged relation therewith.

Returning to FIG. 39, projections 410 extend from first sheet supportingsurface 398. Projections 410 are generally segmented projections andinclude tapered leading and trailing edges to minimize the risk ofdocuments snagging thereon. Idler rolls 412 and 416 are also journaledon and in supporting connection with the member which includes sheetsupporting surface 398. Idler rolls 412 and 416 are generally positionedin aligned relation with inner flights 396 and perform a function whichis later explained.

Each remote transport segment has a canister transport adjacent thereto.In the case of transport segment 110, canister transport 126 extendsadjacent thereto as shown in FIG. 1. Canister transport 126 includes apair of spaced belt supporting rolls 418, only one of which is shown inFIG. 39. Rolls 418 support belts 420 which include lower flights 422.Lower flights 422 extend adjacent to a supporting surface 424 whichincludes dimpled projections thereon of the type previously discussed.Projections 426 extend from supporting surface 424 between the belts andare generally parallel thereto. This structure enables documents to betransported in engaged relation between the projections 426 and the beltflights 422 in the manner previously described.

As shown in FIG. 44 the rolls 418 of the canister transports and rolls390 of the remote transport segments are arranged in transverselyintermediate relation, similar to the manner in which the projections onthe supporting surface are positioned transversely intermediate of thebelt flights. This assures that documents can be passed between thetransport segments in controlled relation in the manner hereinafterdescribed.

Each of the remote transport segments include a media gate which isselectively operable to direct documents in desired directions. In thecase of transport segment 110 the media gate associated therewith isgate 118. Gate 118 includes a plurality of movable arms 428. The armsare engaged to move together and are selectively movable about an axisof rolls 390. Each arm 428 has a roll 430 movably mounted thereon. Eachroll 430 which serves as a diverter roll, is positioned in alignmentwith a corresponding inner belt flight 396.

The operation of the remote transport segment and media gate will now beexplained with reference to FIGS. 39-43. As shown in FIG. 39, when thediverter roll 430 of the gate 118 is disposed from the belt flights 396,a document 432 is enabled to pass directly through the remote transportsegment. Although the document 432 is shown as moving upward in FIG. 39,it should be understood that documents may be moved downward as well.Likewise documents may be moved downward and then upward in the remotetransport segment.

FIG. 40 shows a document 434 moving in a downward direction while thediverter roll 430 of the gate 118 is extended. In this condition thedocument 434 is directed toward the nip created by belt flights 422 andprojections 426 of the canister transport 126. As a result, moving thebelt flights 420 in the direction shown as the media gate is actuatedtransfers the document into a canister transport path along which it iscarried by the canister transport. As can be appreciated from FIG. 40,when the gate 118 is actuated belt flight 396 is deformed. Idler roll416 supports the belt flight in the deformed position to preventexcessive wear as a result of friction.

FIG. 41 shows a document 436 being moved from the canister transport tothe remote transport segment 110. In the position shown the media gate118 operates to direct document 436 towards the remote transport segment108 positioned above remote transport section 110 (see FIG. 35) andtowards the central transport.

FIG. 42 shows the gate 118 in a condition that directs a document 438from the canister transport 126 downward into the remote transportsegment 110. As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, thepreferred embodiment of the invention enables moving documents from onestorage area to another. This function is enabled by the control systemof the machine moving documents from storage areas in canisters wherethey have been stored to storage areas in canisters either above orbelow the storage canister in the machine.

FIG. 43 shows a document 440 moving upward in the remote transportsegment 110 and being directed by the gate 118 into the canistertransport 126. The ability to move the documents in the manner shown inFIGS. 39-43 greatly facilitates the ability of the preferred embodimentof the present invention to store and recover documents. As will beappreciated from the foregoing Figures, the gate mechanisms may also beused to selectively orient documents. This may be desirable,particularly when it is desired to provide customers with documentsuniformly oriented in a stack. This may be accomplished by re-orientingthe documents prior to storage based on the orientation of each documentas determined by the identification device 88. However as discussedpreviously, the present invention does not require documents to beoriented in any particular way for satisfactory operation.

The storage of documents in a storage location is now described withreference to FIGS. 47-53. For purposes of this illustration, storage ofa document in storage area 102, as shown in FIG. 35, will be discussed.However it should be understood that the following description isgenerally applicable to the storage of documents in any of the storageareas available in the machine of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 47, storage area 102 is shown from the top. Beltflights 422 of the canister transport 26 extend above a bin door 442.Bin door 442 is movably mounted above storage area 102. Bin door 442includes a supporting surface 444 which supports notes or otherdocuments moving thereon to and from adjacent storage areas. Supportingsurface 444 includes dimpled projections which serve to reduce surfacetension and sticking of documents that move thereon.

Bin door 442 includes projections 446 which engage passing documents andmaintain the documents in engagement with belts 422. A pair of openings448 are in aligned relation with projections 446. Openings 448 provideaccess for thumper wheels which are later discussed. As can be seen inFIG. 47 projections 446 are tapered adjacent to openings 448 to minimizethe risk of documents sticking thereon. Bin door 442 also includes aplurality of rollers 450. Rollers 450 are positioned in aligned relationwith belts 422. Rollers 450 engage the belts and facilitate movement ofthe belts when the bin door 442 is opened to accept a document in amanner that is later described.

Bin door 442 also includes a central opening 452. Opening 452 is sizedto accept a pair of closely spaced thumper wheels 454 therein. Thecentral thumper wheels 454 are similar in construction to outboardthumper wheels 456 which extend through openings 448. Central opening452 is also sized to accept feed wheels 458 and 460 which are positionedadjacent to the front of the bin door 442 covering storage area 102. Thefeed wheels 458 and 460 are connected to thumper wheels 454 by a feedbelt 462.

Is should be understood that thumper wheels 454 and 456, as well as feedwheels 458 and 460, are supported on a surface positioned adjacent toand vertically above bin door 442. The feed wheels and thumper wheelsare preferably supported on the housing of the machine, whereas storagearea 102 and bin door 442 are supported on recycling canister 94. Therecycling canister may be removed from the machine when the feed wheelsand the thumper wheels are positioned so they do not extend throughopening 452.

Bin door 442 also includes a sensor 464. Sensor 464 is an opticalreceiver type sensor that receives signals from an opto-emitter devicewhich is positioned in the machine adjacent to and above sensor 454 whenthe canister 94 is in its operative position. Sensor 464 is inconnection with the control circuitry of the machine.

The steps involved in storing a note in storage area 102 is nowdescribed with reference to FIGS. 48-53. Storage area 102 holds a stack466 of documents. Stack 466 is preferably a plurality of horizontallyoriented documents which are supported on a push plate 468. Push plate468 is biased upwards by a spring or similar mechanism. The stack isheld at its upper end by a plurality of transversely spaced frontfingers 470 and back fingers 472. The front fingers and back fingers aremovable in the manner hereinafter discussed.

Bin door 442 includes an inner surface 474 which includes a plurality ofdownward extending projections with recesses therebetween. In theposition of fingers 470 and 472, inward facing projections 476, 478adjacent the upper ends of the fingers 470 and 472 respectively, extendabove the stack and are movable in the recesses of the inner surface ofthe bin door. These inward extending projections 476 and 478 of fingers470 and 472 hold the top of the stack in captured relation in thepositions shown in FIG. 48.

In FIG. 48 a document 480 is shown as it moves toward the storage area402. In this position prior to arrival of the document, the feed wheelsand thumper wheels are positioned above the supporting surface 444 ofthe bin door. Take away wheels 482 which are movably mounted on thecanister 94 which includes storage area 102, are moved to a positiondisposed away from the feed wheels 458 and 460.

Upon arrival of the document 480 at the storage area 102 the bin door442 rises upward in a front area adjacent to a front surface thereof.The take away rolls 482 move upward while the feed wheels 458 and 460engage and move the document into the storage area 102. Fingers 470 and472 also move the upper surface of the stack downward against thebiasing force which is applied upward by the push plate 468. Thisenables document 480 to move into the storage area above the inwardprojections of the fingers.

FIG. 50 shows the configuration of the feed wheels and take away wheelsas document 480 is moved into the storage area. In this condition thefeed wheels 458 and 460 engage document 480 as do the take away wheels482, so that the document may be driven into the storage area. As shownin FIG. 50 a stripper roll 484, the operation of which is laterdiscussed in detail, remains disposed away from the feed belt 462 as thedocument 480 enters the storage area.

As shown in FIG. 51 document 480 enters the storage area 102 above thestack 466. Fingers 470 and 472 are then moved outwardly as shown in FIG.51.

As shown in FIG. 52, eventually fingers 470 and 472 are moved outwardlya sufficient distance to release the stack 466 so it moves upwardly inresponse to the biasing force on the push plate 468. As a result,document 480 is integrated into the stack as the bin door 442 movesdownward to its original position. When the bin door is moved downwardlythe inward extending projections on the fingers 472 and 470 are inaligned relation with the recesses on the inside surface of the bindoor.

From the positions shown in FIG. 52, fingers 470 and 472 move inwardlyto again capture the top surface of the stack which now includesdocument 480. The take away wheels 482 are again retracted downward andstorage area 102 is again ready to receive further documents for storagetherein.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, mechanisms inaddition to those shown are used to move the bin door fingers and wheelsof the invention. These mechanisms may include conventional motors andother mechanisms and linkages suitable for use in moving the componentsin the manner described. Such conventional components are not shownherein to promote clarity and facilitate understanding of the operationof the invention.

It should be understood that when one or more documents are routed intoa storage location in the machine, the storage location where theparticular document(s) are to be stored undergoes the described seriesof steps. While the series of operations for the storage location hasbeen described as receiving documents and then integrating them into thestack in the storage location one document at a time, it should beunderstood that the mechanisms in the storage areas may optimally beconfigured so that a plurality of documents may be collected in thestorage area above the fingers and then the fingers and bin door movedto integrate the plurality of documents into the stack. Such aconfiguration may be used to optimize the speed of operation of theautomated banking machine. It should be further understood that whilethe mechanism for storing documents in the storage areas is exemplary,other mechanisms which store such documents may be used in alternativeembodiments of the invention.

The operation of machine 10 is now described with regard to atransaction in which documents are retrieved from storage areas in themachine and dispensed to a customer. This is represented schematicallyin FIG. 54. In a dispensing operation, documents will generally beremoved from a plurality of storage locations and moved concurrentlyunder the control of control system 30 to the escrow area 66. As shownschematically in FIG. 54, each of the documents removed from a storagearea is moved from the respective canister transport to the adjacentremote transport segment and directed upward by the gate to the centraltransport. In the central transport the documents each pass theidentification device 88. The type and character of the document isagain determined prior to being dispensed to the customer. The flow ofdocuments during this dispensing (document recovery) operation isrepresented by Arrows “E” in FIG. 54. Of course as can be appreciatedfrom the foregoing discussion, if at any time in the processing ofdocuments which are to be provided to a customer, an improper orunidentifiable document is found, it may be routed to thedelivery/reject area 60 for reprocessing or return into the machine.

The recovery of documents from a storage area is represented by thesequence of operations shown in FIGS. 55-61 in connection with storagearea 102. For purposes of clarity and simplicity document 480, which waspreviously deposited at the top of the stack 466, will be dispensed inthis exemplary sequence of events.

As shown in FIG. 55 in the initial position of storage area 102, bindoor 442 is disposed downward. The inward projections of the fingers 470and 472 extend in the recesses in the inner surface 474 of the bin door.The fingers along with the inner surface of the bin door retain the topof the stack which is bounded by document 480. The stack 466 is biasedupwardly by spring action of push plate 468.

In the next step in dispensing the document, the fingers 470 and 472 aremoved outward relative to the stack. This enables document 480 at theupper surface of the stack 466 to be fully engaged with the innersurface 474 of the bin door 422.

As next shown in FIG. 57 the front of the bin door 422 is moved upward.The take away wheels 482 are moved upward to engage the feed wheels 458and 460 (see FIG. 59). Likewise stripper roll 484 is moved upward toengage feed belt 462.

It should be noted with regard to FIG. 59 that feed wheel 460 includesan inner portion which has a high friction segment 486 thereon. Highfriction segment 486 comprises a band of resilient material that extendspart way circumferentially about the inner portion of the wheel. Feedwheel 458 has a similar high friction segment 488 thereon. The highfriction segments provide gripping engagement with a top document in thestack when the feed wheels are positioned to place the high frictionsegments in engagement with the top document.

It should further be understood that stripper roll 484 includes a oneway clutch type mechanism. This one way clutch mechanism enables thestripper roll to rotate in a manner which allows a document to readilymove into the storage area 102. The clutch associated with stripper roll484 is oriented to resist movement of documents out of the storage area.In this manner the stripper roll 484 generally strips all but thedocument at the very top of the stack and prevents other documents fromleaving the storage area. This is achieved because the high frictionsegments provide greater force moving the single document outward thanthe resistance applied by the stripper roll.

As is also shown in FIGS. 57 and 59, thumper wheels 454 and 456 includean outward extending portion. These outward extending portions arealigned so that all of the extending portions extend through therespective openings in the bin door simultaneously. As is shown in FIG.59 these extending portions are generally in arcuate alignment with thehigh friction segments on the feed wheels.

As shown in FIG. 58 to pick a document the feed wheels and thumperwheels are rotated so that the extending portions of the thumper wheelsand the high friction segments of the feed wheels engage document 480 atthe top of stack 466. The action of the thumper wheels, feed wheels,take away wheels and stripper roll, operate to separate document 480from the stack and move it outwardly from the storage area as shown inFIG. 58. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus is generally sized sothat a single rotation of the feed wheels and thumper wheels issufficient to remove a document from the storage area. Once the documentis removed from the storage area the bin door 442 is again closed andthe take away wheels and stripper roll moved so as to be retracted fromthe canister. The fingers 470 and 472 are moved upward and then inwardto again engage the top of the stack.

As document 480 is removed from storage area 102 the transmissivity oflight through the document is sensed. The transmission of light throughthe document is sensed by a sensor 490 which is similar to sensor 464and is positioned on the bin door or other structure covering thestorage area or otherwise in front of storage area 102. Emitter 492mounted on the machine emits sufficient light so that it can bedetermined if a double note has been removed from the stack.

Emitter 492 and sensor 490 are connected to the control system which isprogrammed to recognize when a double document has been picked from thestorage area. The machine may operate in a number of ways to deal withthis occurrence. If the document has been removed entirely from thestack, the document may be reversed in direction and deposited back intothe stack. Then an attempt made to again remove it. Alternatively, in anattempted second picking operation the feed wheels may be oscillatedback and forth as the note is being picked to minimize the possibilitythat two notes will be removed together. This may be done automaticallyin some conditions where documents are known to have a particularly highaffinity or surface tension which makes them difficult to separate.

Finally, in the event that repeated attempts to pick a single note fromthe storage area are unsuccessful, the machine may operate to route thepicked document(s) to another storage area or to the dump area 132. Themachine may then proceed to pick a next note from the stack. Theprogramming of the machine 10 is preferably established to minimize thedelay associated when a picking problem is encountered.

After the document 480 has been successfully removed from the storagearea 102 it is transported to the remote transport segment 110 and isrouted by the gate 118 toward the central transport. Document 480 alongwith other documents passes the identification device 88 which confirmsthe identity of each document. The documents are deposited in the escrowarea 66 where an escrow stack 494 is accumulated. Thereafter asschematically represented in FIG. 62, escrow stack 494 is moved upwardlyin the input/output area 50 of the machine. Gate 54 is opened and thestack is delivered to the customer through opening 52.

The transaction flow executed by the control system for carrying out theoperations of the machine in a withdrawal transaction is represented inFIGS. 69 and 70. As is the case with the deposit transaction, themachine first goes through a customer identification sequencerepresented by a step 134 in which the customer operating the machine isidentified. This customer ID sequence is not executed when the customerhas operated the machine to conduct a prior transaction. After thecustomer has identified themselves, the machine goes through the mainATM transaction sequence 136, as previously described.

The customer next indicates at a step 496 through the customer interfacethat they wish to conduct a withdrawal transaction. The amount of thewithdrawal is then received by the machine based on customer inputs at astep 498. At a step 500 the machine operates to determine if the amountof the withdrawal that the customer has requested is authorized by theprogramming of the machine and/or the programming of a computer which isin communication with the machine. If not, the machine returns to themain sequence and provides instructions to the customer.

If the amount of the withdrawal is authorized, the control system of themachine looks up the storage locations of the various bill denominationsat a step 502, and calculates a bill mix to be provided to the customerat a step 504. It should be noted that in some embodiments of theinvention, which are intended to be used primarily by commercialcustomers, the customer may be allowed to select the mix ofdenominations of bills that the customer will receive. This is done bythe control system using programmed prompts displayed on the customerinterface. The customer inputs through the customer interface thequantity of each bill type they desire. If however the machine does notprovide that option or the customer does not provide a specificdenomination selection, the machine will operate to determine the numberof various types of bills that it has available and will provide billsto the customer in denominations which will minimize the probabilitythat the machine will run out of bills of any particular type.

The machine next proceeds to a step 506 in which the control systemoperates to pick notes from the various storage areas. As indicated byphantom step 508, the picking operations are executed concurrently inthe preferred embodiment of the invention. Multiple bills may be pickedfrom the various storage locations and moved as a stream of separatednotes through the remote transport segments and into the centraltransport of the machine.

For each picking operation, after the note is picked a step 510 isexecuted to sense for double notes having been picked from a storagelocation. If a double is sensed at a step 512 the note is retracted at astep 514 and an effort is again made to pick a single note. If howeverin step 512 a single bill is sensed the bill is released in a step 516.In step 516 the note is released in coordinated relation with the othernotes by the control system to assure that each note reaches the centraltransport of the machine in spaced relation with the other notes.However the spacing is such that the notes move concurrently and aredelivered into the escrow location at high speed.

An analysis of each passing note is done by the identification device 88which is indicated at a step 518. If the note is recognized as proper ata step 520, the note is routed to the escrow area 66 at a step 522. Ifthe note is not recognized in step 520 or is improper, it is routed todelivery/reject area 60 in a step 524. The failure to identify a notewhich has come from a storage location is an unusual event. This isbecause each stored note has usually been twice previously identified.Problems may arise when the note was loaded into the canister outsidethe machine. If a note is rejected, the transaction flow proceeds to anerror recovery step 526. This error recovery program may include routingthe note back through the central transport to a designated storagelocation for later analysis.

Notes are delivered into the escrow area until all the notes whichrespond to the withdrawal request by the customer have been delivered.The completion of the delivery is checked at a step 528. A check is thenmade at a step 530 to determine if all the notes that have beendelivered have been properly identified. If not and there are notes inthe reject area, the error recovery step 526 is executed.

If however the notes have all been properly identified the escrow stackcorresponding to stack 494 in FIG. 62 is moved to the delivery positionin a step 532. The inner gate is then closed at a step 534. The frontgate is opened at a step 536 and the transport belts move to deliver thenotes to the customer at a step 538.

At a step 540 a determination is made based on reading from sensors 148and 150 as to whether the stack of notes has been taken by the customer.If so, the front gate is closed at a step 542. The transaction flow thenreturns to the main ATM sequence at a step 544.

If however the notes are not taken by the customer routines may beexecuted to prompt the customer through the customer interface to removethe notes. However if the customer does not take the notes, then step546 is executed to retract the notes into the machine. The front gate isclosed at a step 548 and the machine then proceeds to the error recoveryroutine. This may include for example, storing the notes in a particularstorage location. Alternatively it may involve reversing the withdrawaltransaction requested by the customer and placing the notes again backin the various storage areas by running them through the centraltransport.

An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is itsability to operate at high speeds. This is achieved through thearchitecture of the control system 30 which is schematically representedin FIG. 63. The preferred embodiment of the system uses a control systemwhich includes a terminal processor 548. The terminal processor containsthe general programming of the machine as well as the programs necessaryfor operation of the communication and other functions that the machinecarries out. As indicated in FIG. 63, terminal processor 548 is inoperative connection with a data store which includes program data.Terminal processor 548 is in communication through appropriateinterfaces with various hardware devices 550.

Terminal processor 548 is also in operative communication with a moduleprocessor 552. Module processor 552 orchestrates the operations carriedout by the plurality of module controllers 554, 556, 558, 560, 562 and564. As indicated, module processor 552 is also in operative connectionwith its own respective data store which holds its programming. Likewiseeach of the module controllers preferably include data storage forexecuting various programmed operations. The module processor 552 isoperatively connected to each of the module controllers through a databus 566. The module controllers each communicate through the data busonly with the module processor 552, and the module processorcommunicates directly with each module controller. Each modulecontroller has associated therewith hardware devices indicated 567. Eachmodule controller has associated therewith its own respective types ofhardware devices which it is responsible for operating and controlling.

In operation of the system each module controller operates programs toexecute particular tasks associated with each hardware device that isconnected to it. This may be for example, a particular functionassociated with moving a mechanism or a document. These tasks arecoordinated with other tasks executed through the module controllerconcerning related hardware. The movement of documents concurrentlyhowever is coordinated by the module processor 552 operating to send thecontrol signals to the various module controllers, so that documenthandling functions are carried out in a timed and coordinated relation.The terminal processor 548 controls the operation of the moduleprocessor to carry out the particular transactions which are indicatedby the terminal programming. As a result of this configuration,documents are enabled to be handled concurrently, yet independentlythroughout the machine which greatly speeds the operation of storing andretrieving documents.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a novel systemthrough which information concerning canisters, and the contents of thestorage areas in the canisters are stored in a programmable memoryonboard each canister. This enables the control system of the inventionto control the operation of the machine to suit the properties of thecanister and the documents housed therein. This feature also gives themachine self-audit capability. Such capability may be used to reduce therisk of unaccounted for currency and other documents when the canistersare transported from a location where they are replenished and/orserviced, to a machine where they are installed.

FIG. 71 shows a canister generally indicated 600. Canister 600 issupported on a housing 610 of the machine. A portion of the housing uponwhich the canister is supported is preferably a shelf or guide structurethat enables the canister to be supported thereon within the machine.The housing 610 preferably includes tracks 612 or a comparable structurethat requires the canister 600 to be precisely positioned when it isinstalled in the machine. As schematically indicated in FIG. 71 thecanister moves in the direction of arrow P as it moves to the installedposition in the machine. Of course the canister is moved in the opposeddirection as it is removed. A suitable cooperating locking mechanism isprovided between the canister 600 and the housing 610 so that thecanister is releasably secured in the proper position once it has beeninstalled in the machine. Such proper positioning is necessary to assurethat the stripper wheels and thumper wheels which are positioned abovethe canister in the housing are precisely aligned with the openings inthe bin doors when the canister is secured in position. Likewise othermechanisms in the housing of the banking machine which engage componentsof the canister generally require precise alignment for their operation.

A connector generally indicated 614 releasibly connects the canister tocircuitry within the machine when the canister is in the operativeposition in the housing. Connector 614 in the preferred embodiment is anelectrical connector which includes a first portion 616 supported on thecanister. The connector 614 further includes a second portion 618 thatis supported on the housing 610. As shown schematically in FIG. 71second portion 618 is biased outwardly by springs 620 to facilitateengagement with first portion 616. Second portion 618 includes aplurality of electrical contacts 622. Contacts 622 are preferablydeformable to further facilitate electrical engagement. Each contact 622engages a further contact 624 on first portion 616. As indicated in FIG.72 contacts 622 and 624 preferably engage in a nested relation to assurea proper electrical connection.

While an electrical connector is used in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it should be understood that in other embodimentsother types of connectors may be used. This may include opticalconnectors, RF connectors, sonic connectors and any other type ofconnector or device suitable for transmitting information between thecontrol circuitry of the machine and the memory device on the canister.While in the embodiment shown seven separate electrical connections areindicated, it should be understood that in the embodiments of theinvention any number of connections may be used. The number ofconnections depends on the type of onboard memory in the canister.Electrical connections are also dedicated to operating devices that areonboard the canister as well as transmitting and receiving signals fromdevices such as the sensors that detect the single and double noteswhich are mounted on the canisters.

The present invention provides for having a sufficient number ofcontacts or channels to transmit all the necessary signals that may needto be passed between the circuitry which is a permanent part of theautomated banking machine including the control system and the memoryand other devices on the canisters. For the embodiment of the inventiondescribed applicants contemplate that twelve electrical connections willbe amply sufficient.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention each canister has aprogrammable memory thereon. In the case of canister 600 shown in FIG.71 the programmable memory is indicated 626. In the preferred embodimentthe programmable memory comprises a Dallas chip which includes 16K bytesof memory. Of course the type and amount of memory depends on the needsof the particular machine.

The memory onboard each canister preferably includes data representativeof four categories of information. These categories are:

-   -   1. Information about the contents of the storage areas in the        canister.    -   2. Maintenance and status information.    -   3. Calibration information.    -   4. Security and tracking information.        The contents information stored in the memory includes data        representative of the following information in the preferred        embodiment:    -   1. The type of document stored in each of the storage areas        (e.g., U.S. currency, Mexican currency, travelers checks,        tickets stock, etc.).    -   2. The denomination of the documents stored in each of the        corresponding storage areas (e.g., $5, $10, $20, etc.).    -   3. The number of documents stored in each storage area.    -   4. Particular qualities of the documents stored (e.g., new,        used, partially plastic coated, etc.).    -   5. The orientation of the documents in the storage area.    -   6. An indication of whether each storage area is suitable for        both receiving and dispensing documents or whether the storage        area is limited to one of either dispensing or receiving.        It should be understood that in the preferred embodiment of the        invention all of this data which is originally input to the        memory in a manner later described, is updated as the machine        dispenses or receives documents into the various storage areas.        As a result the memory can be read at any time to provide an        indication of what documents are present in a canister. This may        be done when the canister is removed from the machine using a        suitable reading device. Alternatively such reading may be done        using onboard diagnostics that may be accessed in the automated        banking machine by a person servicing or monitoring the        machine's operation.

The second category of information for which representative data isstored in the canister memory is maintenance information. Maintenanceinformation may include for example, data representative of:

-   -   1. The revision level of the hardware and/or software which is        installed in the canister such as the software in the memory and        the hardware components installed in or adjacent to the        respective storage areas.    -   2. The current setup of the canister for each of the storage        areas and other components (e.g., special features which may be        implemented for handling a particular type of document).    -   3. Count data including information about preventative        maintenance activity (for example, the number of cycles for each        storage area since preventative maintenance was performed, the        type of preventative maintenance previously performed at various        cycle thresholds, the entities performing maintenance        activities, the dates of past maintenance activities and the        type of future maintenance activities and when they should be        performed).        The control system of the automated banking machine uses the        maintenance information to control operation of the mechanisms        which pick and deposit documents in the storage areas to conform        to the status of the hardware and software associated with those        storage areas. For example, if a storage area has been modified        to accommodate a particular type of document the control system        will control the operation of components of the machine, such as        by changing speed or in another manner, to be optimally tailored        to the particular document.

Maintenance information preferably provides an ongoing record of variousmaintenance activities that have been performed for the particularcurrency canister. This is helpful for identifying recurring problemsand maintenance activities that have been previously performed in aneffort to correct those problems. Such historical information may bevery useful in determining better methods of fixing the canister. Thecount data preferably includes the number of cycles for the variousstorage areas which enables making a determination as to when componentsshould be replaced to assure continued proper operation. Suchinformation may be integrated with the information about when variousmaintenance activities have been performed in the past and/or should beperformed in the future. This enables maintenance activities which areoptimally conducted at different intervals to be tracked and performedas appropriate.

The calibration information included in the canister includes in thepreferred embodiment data representative of:

-   -   1. The particular sensor type used in connection with each        storage area for detecting doubles.    -   2. The current threshold output signal indicative of single and        doubles document conditions in the particular documents the        canister is set up to contain.    -   3. Prior thresholds for singles and doubles for the canister in        other machines or at other times, and information on        reprogramming or resetting thresholds for the sensors.        The calibration data is preferably used to indicate to the        control system of the automated banking machine the type of        sensors that are onboard the particular canister adjacent to the        various storage areas. As it is possible to have different types        of sensors adjacent to storage areas, the control system is        preferably programmed to operate in response to each        appropriately. For example canisters may include a mixture of        infrared detectors and/or detectors operating to sense light at        other frequencies. The type of detector used may depend on the        document type which is to be sensed. The control system of the        machine is preferably programmed to adjust its operation to        conform to the particular types of sensors.

The memory of the document canisters of the preferred embodiment alsoincludes sensor data concerning thresholds indicative of single ordouble documents, or other document conditions. This indicates to themachine the particular output signals that indicate single notes, doublenotes and other conditions, without having to recover this informationfrom other memories in the terminal. The memory further preferablyincludes information on how the control system of the terminal shouldinitialize or recalibrate the sensors. This may include for example anindication that the terminal control system should operate to adjust theintensity of an emitter corresponding to a particular sensor on acanister to a level which produces a particular output signal when nodocument is present. Such an approach tends to assure that doubles areproperly sensed. Data concerning prior settings and calibration datawhich are useful to the control system are also preferably included inthe memory. This may include information concerning settings when thecanister was installed in other machines, as well as settingscorresponding to prior calibrations in the particular machine in whichthe canister is currently installed. The memory may also includeinformation which causes the control system of the automated bankingmachine to recalibrate the sensors on the canister at periodicintervals.

The security tracking information carried in the memory of the canistersof the preferred embodiment includes data representative of:

-   -   1. A unique serial number associated with the canister.    -   2. Information on who loaded the canister with documents on a        given date.    -   3. The nature and amount of the documents that were indicated as        loaded in the canister by each individual or entity on a given        date.    -   4. The individuals or entities responsible for transporting the        canister from the loading location to an ATM machine.        The serial number is preferably a unique serial number        throughout the system of canisters operated by a given        institution or the entire population of canisters. In the        preferred embodiment each canister manufactured is assigned its        own unique serial number. In this way if a canister is sold or        transferred there is no confusion as to the canister's identity.        This approach enables exchanging canisters between various        operators and servicers of banking machines which facilitates        operation.

The information stored in the memory concerning loading operations forthe canister includes information that the entity operating the ATMsystem may find helpful in tracking activities related to the canisterwhen outside an ATM. This preferably includes the data representative ofthe names or identities of persons or organizations responsible forloading documents into the various storage areas in the canisters, aswell as the names of persons or entities who witnessed or verified suchactivities. The information also includes information on amounts thatsuch entities loaded and the time and dates of such loading. The storedinformation may further include information about the particularapparatus or fixture which was used during each loading operation. Thememory may be in operative connection with sensors on each bin door, andmay store a separate record concerning when each storage area was openedwhen the canister was outside an ATM. This may later be used to compareto information input by the entities loading the storage locations.

Data representative of the particular courier service responsible fortransporting the canister after it has been loaded may also be includedin the memory. The courier service information may include datarepresentative of a particular route for an armored car or other vehiclethrough which the canister will be transported. The information may inaddition include the particular entities and/or individuals responsiblefor transporting the canister as well as an indication of who acceptedthe canisters on behalf of the entity transporting the canister to amachine. Data representative of a particular machine to which thecanister is being routed (if a particular machine is designated) mayalso be included. This information may be used as a key so that thecanister will not operate or an alarm may be given if an attempt is madeto install the canister in the improper machine. Encryption techniquesmay be used for the key data as well as to secure other data stored inmemory on canisters.

The service tracking data concerning particular entities loading andtransporting canisters may be replaced each time that the canister isreloaded at a remote location away from the machine, or may bemaintained on an ongoing historical basis. How this is done depends onthe needs of the system operator and the amount of memory available forthis purpose. As will be appreciated from the following discussion, thisinformation may be particularly helpful if there is a discrepancybetween what is indicated to have been loaded into a canister and whatis actually determined to be in the canister when it is received in thebanking machine.

In operation the control system 30 of the automated banking machine ofthe preferred embodiment responds to the information stored in thecanister memory 626 and tailors the operation of the machine inaccordance therewith. For example, the information concerning the typeand denomination of the documents in the storage areas is used to set upthe operation of the machine as well as to initialize the memory of themachine concerning what is stored in each storage location. Informationconcerning the types of documents as well as the hardware and softwareonboard the canisters is used to adjust the operation of the bankingmachine to the particular hardware and software present. These featuresenable the canisters to be installed in the machine at any of theavailable locations where canisters may be positioned. This is asubstantial advantage over certain prior art type machines which requirecanisters to be positioned in particular locations within the machine.

FIG. 73 is a schematic representation of the equipment associated with acanister loading operation conducted remotely from the banking machine.In FIG. 73 a recycling canister 628 is shown. Canister 628 includes fourseparate document storage areas indicated 630, 632, 634 and 636. Itshould be understood that canisters used in connection with the presentinvention may have a greater or lesser number of storage areas. Each ofthe storage areas is similar to those previously discussed, from whichdocuments may be removed or added.

Canister 628 has a programmable memory thereon indicated 638. Memory 638is similar to memory 626 on canister 600 which has been previouslydiscussed. Memory 638 is connected to a first portion of a connector onthe canister 628, the first portion being similar to portion 616 oncanister 600.

A fixture 640 is shown attached to canister 628 in FIG. 73. Fixture 640is a fixture suitable for making electrical connections to memory 638.Fixture 640 also provides operative connections to the sensors,actuators and other devices which are onboard canister 628.

Fixture 640 is in operative connection with an input/output device 642.Input/output device 642 in the preferred embodiment is a computer whichincludes output devices such as a screen and input devices such as akeyboard or mouse. Computer 642 includes a memory and a processor. Thememory includes programs which are suitable for interfacing with thecomponents on canister 628, as well as loading and receiving informationfrom memory 638.

In accordance with a method used in connection with a preferredembodiment of the invention, individuals such as employees of a bank orservice provider are responsible for loading documents into the storageareas on canister 628. This may be done at a secure location remote fromthe automated banking machines. Individuals responsible for loading thedocuments in the storage areas indicate the type and denomination of thedocuments to the memory 638 through computer 642. The individuals alsoinput information corresponding to the number of documents in thestorage area as well as document orientation. The individualsresponsible for loading the canisters also load into the memory throughinputs to the input devices information concerning whether the documentsare new or used and any other information that may be used by thecontrol system of the machine in its operations storing and removingdocuments from the various storage areas.

The individuals responsible for loading the documents also preferablyinput information concerning their identities as well as the time thatthe loading operations were performed. In addition the names of entitiesor individuals witnessing or verifying the loading may be included. Thismay be done through manual inputs such as through a keyboard.Alternatively such data may be read from an object or feature associatedwith a user such as a card bearing magnetic or optical indicia, or abiometric input. This identifying data is loaded through the computer642 onto the memory of the canister. The individuals loading thecanister also preferably indicate and load into the memory the entitiesresponsible for transporting the canister from the loading area to anautomated banking machine. This may include for example the companyand/or the particular individuals working for the company who receivethe canister. Information loaded in memory may also include a routenumber which indicates the route that the canister is to travel beforeit is installed in the machine. Again this information may be inputthrough several types of input devices which are operatively connectedto the computer.

In the preferred embodiment information is loaded to the canister memorythrough the computer 642. However in other embodiments, such informationmay be added through a separate terminal which includes a computer. Aterminal may add this information in the memory at the time the canisteris taken by the individuals having responsibility for installing it.This may prove convenient in situations where the individuals loadingthe currency do not know who will be conducting the subsequent handling.Alternatively, loading of documents may be done by an automated bankingmachine with features similar to machine 10. Such a loading machine mayreceive a canister and count existing documents in the storage areaschecking the canister memory for any discrepancy. The machine may thenadd documents to the storage areas based on instructions from anindividual responsible for reloading. The machine may also update thecanister memory. This minimizes manual labor. Card, keyboard, biometricand/or other inputs may be used to provide identification for anauthorized user to access the loading machine and to capture the data toload in the canister memory.

When the canister is removed from an ATM for reloading, preventativemaintenance or modifications to the canister may be conducted.Information concerning activities of this type which are performed arepreferably loaded into the memory 638 using the computer 642. Inaddition the computer 642 may be used to review the cycle information todetermine if preventative maintenance is needed concerning any of thecanister components.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the data which is stored inmemory 638 may be encoded or otherwise secured to minimize the risk ofunauthorized individuals gaining access thereto. Computer 642 may beprogrammed with software requiring the input of secret passwords, publickey encryption and the like to modify the data stored in a canistermemory. The banking machine control system may include appropriatecapability to decipher the memory information and to provide the properkeys or other inputs to enable operation of the canister in connectionwith the machine. Such precautions minimize the risk of tampering. Ofcourse in other embodiments other approaches to securing the data storedin the memory of the canister may be used.

After the canister has been loaded with currency and the information onthe memory 638 updated, the canister is closed. This is done in onepreferred embodiment using suitable covers or other mechanisms whichprevent accessing of the storage areas until the canister is placedinside the machine. The courier service or other entity responsible fortransporting the canister transports it to an automated banking machine.The interior of the machine is accessed by opening the secure portion ofthe machine, and an existing canister is removed. Canister 628 is thensubstituted for the existing canister. Of course when such operationsare performed it may be common to replace several of the canistershoused in the machine. Embodiments of the invention may require theindividual loading the canisters in the machine to identify themselvesby a card or other input. Information concerning the time of insertionof the canisters may also be noted in the memory of the machine.

Upon the control system of the automated banking machine sensing acanister replacement, or alternatively in response to a command which ispresented to the machine either through the user interface or from aremote location, the machine proceeds to do a self-audit. In theself-audit the machine removes the documents from each of the storagelocations and moves the documents through the central transport. As eachof the documents is moved past the identification device 88, eachdocument is identified to determine its type and denomination. Thedocuments are then stored in the escrow area. After the documents havebeen identified a comparison is made concerning the type anddenomination of the documents that the machine found to have been storedin a storage area, to the number and type of such documents that areindicated to have been loaded into such area. Once the control systemdetermines that the actual document information corresponds to theinformation in the memory, the documents are loaded back into thestorage area or an alternative available storage area from which thedocuments may be later selectively dispensed. The control system thenoperates the automated banking machine to check the other storage areasand the corresponding information.

If the automated banking machine determines that there is a discrepancybetween the information in the memory of the canister and the actualdocuments found to be in the canister, an appropriate indication isstored or given to indicate the discrepancy. In the preferred form ofthe invention this discrepancy signal is provided to a bank or otherinstitution operating the machine which has found the discrepancy. Themanner in which such discrepancies are reported are schematicallyindicated through the system shown in FIG. 74.

If the automated banking machine schematically indicated 10 determinesthat there is a discrepancy between the data loaded into the memory ofthe canister and the actual contents of the storage areas, a signalindicative of the discrepancy is transmitted electronically through anetwork indicated 644. The network is connected to a host computer 646.Host computer 646 is preferably a computer operated by a bank or otherentity which operates the ATMs.

The host computer 646 processes the message indicative of thediscrepancy. The host computer then preferably outputs a message to anappropriate output terminal 647 to indicate to a responsible individualthat such a discrepancy has been detected. In one preferred embodimentthe output terminal 647 to which the message is routed is a terminalaccessible by the individuals responsible for the remote location wherethe canister reporting the discrepancy was loaded. In addition messagespassed from the automated banking machine 10 to the host computer 646may include information concerning the particular individualsresponsible for loading the currency and transporting the currency tothe machine. This information may also include the data stored in memoryconcerning times when bin doors were opened when the canister wasoutside the machine. Information on who loaded the canisters into theATM and the time thereof may also be provided. This information may alsobe output at the terminal 647 depending on the system's configuration.

The individuals who receive the discrepancy messages at output terminal647 may query the memory of the ATM and the canister from the remotelocation. This will provide information to enable checking with theindividuals responsible to uncover the cause of the possiblediscrepancy. In addition the individuals investigating the discrepancymay check the status of the memory within input/output terminal 642 orother automated loading device. This may uncover sources of potentialproblems. Uncovering and resolving discrepancies quickly minimizes therisk that improper activities will go undetected and deter instances ofpilferage.

When the automated banking machine 10 conducts a self-audit it willgenerally return the documents that are initially removed from a storagearea for counting and identification to a storage area. This may be theoriginal storage area in which the documents were loaded or may be analternative storage area selected by the control system of the machine.If the documents are loaded into a different storage area or there is adifferent number of documents than was indicated in the memory, thecontrol system operates to modify the information stored in the canistermemory. Similarly if the audit determines that one or more documentshave been improperly loaded, such documents may be transported to astorage area where like documents are stored. Again the canistermemories are updated to reflect these changes.

When a canister is loaded into a machine the control system preferablyoperates to calibrate the various sensors on the canisters. This ispreferably done using the sensor data stored in canister memory. Suchcalibration activities may include for example having the control systemmodify the level of emitters so that the proper differentiation can bemade between signals corresponding to single and double bills. Of courseother calibrations may be conducted depending on the sensor types usedon the canisters. Once this calibration data is gathered suchinformation may also be stored in the canister memory. Although suchcalibration data may also be stored in other memories within theautomated banking machine, the machine may be operated based on the datastored in the canister memories. This may avoid duplication and enablelocalized processing of the data which speeds operation of the machine.

During operation of the ATM the information stored in the canistermemories is preferably updated. This may include changing informationconcerning the type and number of documents stored in each of thestorage areas. The information stored in the canister memories may alsoinclude information concerning the origins of documents that aresubsequently stored in storage areas. The preferred embodiment of theinvention determines document orientation, and information concerningdocument orientation of particular documents placed in storage locationsmay be stored in the memories as well. Alternatively, the ATM mayreorient documents or may segregate documents of the same type indifferent storage areas based on orientation. The ongoing update ofmemory information enables the onboard canister memories to be accessedso that their contents may be determined. This may preferably be doneremotely from the host computer 646 through the network 644.Alternatively service personnel accessing the banking machines mayobtain this information through an appropriate connection or interfaceon the ATM.

The control system of the automated banking machines may be programmedto periodically conduct a self-audit to determine whether theinformation stored in the canister memories reflects the documentsactually stored in the storage locations. Alternatively such aself-audit may be initiated through a message from host computer 646.Periodic self-auditing of the automated banking machines may beparticularly desirable in situations when individuals add currency orother documents to the canisters at the machine. If this is done byaccessing the storage locations and adding documents thereto it may beparticularly desirable to verify the amount, type and number ofdocuments added.

Automated banking machines of preferred embodiments of the presentinvention are also programmed to have their control system conductperiodic self-calibration. Self-calibration of the various sensors andother components is desirable to minimize the risk of errors due tosensor deterioration or accumulations of dirt or other contaminants.Such self-calibration may be conducted as a result of programmedinstructions in the machine or may be initiated by a message from hostcomputer 646. Of course the frequency of self-calibration andself-auditing activities will be established by the entity operating themachines.

Alternatively documents may be added to the ATM of the preferredembodiment directly by input through the usual customer interface.Service providers wishing to add documents to storage areas may operatethe machine in a manner generally similar to that used by customers.This may involve insertion of identifying data on a card, through akeyboard, through a biometric reorder or combinations thereof. Documentsmay then be inserted to the input/output area and processed in themanner previously described. Rather than having such documents creditedto an individual's account, the added documents are indicated as havingbeen added on behalf of the institution or other entity that operatesthe machines.

For example, an automated banking machine employing the principles ofthe invention may be used in a banking, retail or other transactionenvironment where cash is taken from an available source within theinstitution and loaded in the machine through the currency validatingtransport section. Such cash may be taken for example from a cashregister, a currency counter, vault or similar source. In someembodiments the device or source from which the cash is taken may beoperative to print a record of the cash removed from the source. Thismay be a paper record or other record indicating the amount involved.The record may include other information such as the identification ofthe person responsible and the time of the withdrawal. The persondepositing the cash may access the machine in the usual manner of acustomer such as with card, keyboard and/or biometric inputs.Alternatively other approaches may be used to provide access for aperson making a deposit on behalf of the entity who owns the machine.

Upon depositing the cash, the machine verifies the amount and stores itin one or more storage locations. The person loading the machine ispreferably provided with a receipt or other record showing the amount ofthe deposit. The user may keep the record for the deposit with theirwithdrawal record to show proper accounting for the cash. A journalprinter within the banking machine also preferably operates to make arecord in the machine of the deposit. Alternatively, or in addition, anelectronic record may be stored in the machine or elsewhere in thesystem to reflect that the deposit was made.

In some embodiments the deposit into the banking machine on behalf ofthe machine owner may cause the machine to generate appropriate messagesto a connected host computer to cause an account of the owner to becredited. This may occur in a similar manner to the crediting ofaccounts by customers who make deposits into the banking machine. Inalternative embodiments, no corresponding credit will be made to theaccount of the machine owner. This may be done in situations where themachine operator owns the machine and it is sufficient to know that thecash of the operator has been moved on site from one storage location toanother.

In the case of a machine operated by a bank or similar entity, ascustomers make withdrawals from the banking machine, the customer'saccounts with the machine operator are reduced electronically based onthe amount of the withdrawals. Alternatively, if the machine operator isnot a financial institution or similar entity with which customers havedeposits, customer withdrawals result in crediting of the operator'saccount at a remote financial institution, credit card company orsimilar entity. As the machine operator's account is credited, theaccounts of the customers are charged. This enables a machine operatorto earn income on available cash by being credited for at least aportion of the surcharges that customers pay for the convenience ofmaking the withdrawals. This may be very profitable for businesses thatcan receive cash within a single establishment and dispense cash tocustomers through the banking machine, a substantial portion of which isspent in the establishment.

While paper receipts to track cash transfers from a source of cash intothe banking machine may be suitable in some environments, alternative oradditional approaches may be used. For example, an employee of theinstitution may be provided with an object which includes a record ofthe cash withdrawal. This may include a machine readable object that maybe read by a device in or in connection with, the automated bankingmachine. The object may include indicia representative of the amount ofthe withdrawal. It may also include indicia representative of otherinformation such as the time and date, the person receiving the cash,the denomination(s) of the cash, the source of the cash, the intendeddestination of the cash, a digital signature, a digital image of theperson taking the cash and/or other information. This information can beprovided in a paper record, such as by a bar code or similar indicia.Alternatively, the indicia may be stored on a card, such as on amagnetic stripe or in a memory chip on a smart card.

The person receiving the cash may be enabled to input the data on theobject representative of the taking of cash, with a reading device onthe automated banking machine. This indicia identifying the taking ofcash can be used to verify that the amount deposited corresponds to theamount of cash taken. This may be done for example by including the dataon a magnetic stripe or chip on a card that can be read by the cardreader in the machine. The control system of the machine may beprogrammed to operate responsive to the card data to cause the machineto carry out the deposit transaction. Appropriate indications can begiven in the event of any discrepancy between the amount of cashindicated as taken and the amount deposited. Alternatively, the sourceof the cash and the banking machine may be operatively interconnected,such as through a local area network, so that an indication is given atan output device if the deposit into the machine is not made within aperiod of time measured from when the cash was taken or does notcorrespond to the cash taken.

The described method of depositing cash into an automated bankingmachine from a source owned by the machine operator may be carried outwith a machine like that described in detail herein which accepts cashdeposits from customers and dispenses cash to customers. In alternativeembodiments the method may be carried out with other types of bankingmachines. Such machines may be configured to accept deposits only fromthe machine operator and to dispense cash to customers. Numerousapproaches employing the teachings of the invention may be used.

Embodiments of the currency recycling banking machine of the presentinvention may also operate to adjust the amount and type of currency inthe machine to suit the needs of particular transaction environments.For example machines that have several currency canisters may beprogrammed to identify dispensing and deposit trends and to facilitateremoval of excess notes of one type and replenishments of needed notesof another type.

To achieve this function the storage areas of the machine are generallymaintained with a selected number of bills and mix of billdenominations. Some space is also maintained in the canisters so thatthere is room to accept deposited notes. In programming the machine atleast one multi-storage area canister may be designated as the exchangecanister. The exchange canister is the canister that is generallyremoved from the machine and reinstalled after additional bills areadded and/or excess bills are removed.

The control system is programmed so that when a canister is not inposition the machine will continue to operate dispensing and depositingbills from and to the remaining canisters. This is accomplished based onthe control system sensing that there is no longer electrical contactwith a canister at one of the canister positions. As a result one (orseveral) canisters that are to be used as an exchange canister can beremoved while the machine remains operational.

The control system is preferably programmed to review the quantity anddenominations of bills being dispensed from the machine and to comparethis data to the quantity and denomination of bills being deposited. Insome environments the quantity and mix of bills dispensed will besubstantially different from those deposited. For example, customers maytend to deposit more $1 and $5 bills than are dispensed. Likewise, insome operating environments many more $20 bills may be dispensed thandeposited.

The control system is operative to note the character of deposits andwithdrawals and to calculate the currency requirements of the machine.This can be done based on attempts to maintain a generally constant billmix and number of bills in the machine, or the mix and amounts of billsstored may be changed to meet anticipated future demands based on pastexperience. The approach taken depends on the operator and how they wishto program the machine.

Bills in excess of those expected to be needed may be stored in theexchange canister. Information stored in the canister memory by thecontrol system may indicate the nature of the bills stored, and alsothat these are excess bills to be removed when the canister is reloaded.Likewise the control system may program the memory on the exchangecanister(s) to indicate that certain types of bills are needed in themachine. For example, the memory may indicate that several hundred $20bills are expected to be needed and should be added to the exchangecanister.

When the exchange canister is removed from the machine and taken to astation to be replenished, the computer or terminal is advisedresponsive to the information stored memory on the canister what billsto remove and what bills to add. Such removals and additions may be madeand the canister returned to the machine. The memory on the canister ispreferably updated prior to return to indicate that it has beenreplenished and to indicate what bills it is now holding. In response tothe reinstallation of the exchange canister and/or the indication in itsmemory that it has been replenished, the control system may run theaudit on the contents of the canister as previously described. After theaudit the control system may route the bills to other storage locationsto replenish supplies therein or return bills to the storage locationsin the exchange canister if other space is not available. If the billsare moved out of the exchange canister, any excess bills that haveaccumulated can be moved and stored therein. The approach of usingexchange canisters reduces the need to transport canisters and avoidsmachine downtime to replenish currency.

In alternative embodiments and methods of operation of the invention,the excess currency can be discharged and needed currency input throughthe customer interface of the machine. This can be done by a serviceprovider or employee of the machine operator who identifies themselvesto the machine in one of the ways previously discussed. Upon identifyingthe user as one with authority to replenish the machine, the machine maybe operated to purge excess bills of one type and request needed billsof another type. The screen or other output devices on the customerinterface may be used to provide instructions for the addition andremoval of currency. The removal and additions may be from and tostorage areas in one or more designated exchange canisters or from othermultiple storage locations as required. The approach taken depends onthe preferences of the operator of the machine and the programming ofthe control system.

Thus the preferred embodiment of the present invention achieves theabove stated objectives, eliminates difficulties encountered in the useof prior devices, systems and methods, and attains the desirable resultsdescribed herein.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposesand are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the foregoingdescriptions and illustrations are by way of examples and the inventionis not limited to the details shown or described.

In the following claims any feature described as a means for performinga function shall be construed as encompassing any means capable ofperforming the recited function and shall not be limited to the meansshown and described in the foregoing description as performing therecited function, or mere equivalents thereof.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated and thenew and useful results attained; the new and useful structures, devices,elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, operations,methods and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.

1. Apparatus comprising: an automated banking machine wherein themachine operates responsive to data read from user cards, wherein themachine includes a control system, a cash dispenser, a display screen,and at least one input device, wherein the control system includes atleast one computer, wherein the at least one input device includes atleast one reader device, wherein the at least one reader device includesa card reader,  wherein the card reader is operative to read identifyingdata from a user card, wherein the control system is operative to causeidentifying data to be compared with information in a data store,wherein a customer is authorized to use the machine to carry out atleast one function responsive to correspondence between identifying dataand data store information,  wherein the machine permits an authorizedcustomer to conduct a financial transaction which includes a financialtransfer at least one of to or from a financial account, wherein themachine includes at least one currency cassette, wherein the at leastone cassette is configured to hold currency therein, wherein the cashdispenser is operative to cause currency held in the cassette to bedispensed from the machine, wherein the at least one cassette includesprogrammable memory, wherein the memory includes data representative ofat least one characteristic associated with the cassette,  wherein theat least one cassette is operative to transmit the data to the controlsystem via RF signal transmission.
 2. Apparatus comprising: an automatedbanking machine currency cassette, wherein the cassette is structurallyconfigured to hold currency therein, wherein the cassette is usable in acurrency recycling automated banking machine including a control system,wherein the cassette includes memory, wherein the memory includesinformation, wherein the cassette while in the machine is structurallyoperative to convey the information to the control system via RFtransmission.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein theinformation includes data representative of at least one characteristicassociated with the cassette, and wherein the cassette is operative toconvey the data via RF transmission.
 4. The apparatus according to claim3 and currently comprising: a currency recycling automated bankingmachine, wherein the machine includes a note receiving area configuredto receive currency notes from a machine user, wherein the machineincludes the cassette, wherein the cassette is operative to transmit theinformation via RF, wherein the cassette includes at least one currencynote storage location therein, wherein the machine is operative toreceive the information transmitted by the cassette, wherein the machineis operative to receive currency notes in the note receiving area,determine the amount of received notes, store received notes in the atleast one storage location of the cassette, and dispense received notesfrom the at least one storage location to machine users, at least onecomputer operative to compare amounts corresponding to currency notesreceived by the automated banking machine and currency notes dispensedto users by the automated banking machine.
 5. The apparatus according toclaim 3 wherein the cassette is associated with an identificationnumber, wherein the data is representative of the identification number.6. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the cassette includescurrency, wherein the data is representative of at least onecharacteristic of cassette currency.
 7. The apparatus according to claim6 wherein the data is representative of an amount of the currency. 8.The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the data is representative ofa particular denomination of the currency.
 9. The apparatus according toclaim 3 wherein the data is representative of a date.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein the data is representative of at least oneor currency nationality, currency denomination, currency length,currency height, currency thickness, currency code, amount of currencyin the cassette, time the cassette was loaded with currency, date thecassette was loaded with currency, and identifying informationpertaining to a currency loading entity.
 11. The apparatus according toclaim 3 wherein the memory comprises a programmable memory.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 2 wherein the information includes both anidentification number of the cassette and an amount of currency in thecassette, wherein the cassette is operative to transmit the informationvia RF signal transmission.
 13. Apparatus comprising an automatedbanking machine currency cassette, wherein the cassette is configured tohold currency notes therein, wherein the cassette is configured for usein a cash receiving automated banking machine, wherein the cassetteincludes at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory includesdata representative of at least one characteristic associated with thecassette, wherein the cassette includes at least one device operative totransmit the data via radio frequency (RF) signals.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 13 wherein the at least one memory comprisesprogrammable memory.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein theat least one characteristic of the cassette includes a unique cassetteidentification number associated with the cassette, wherein the data isrepresentative of the unique cassette identification number.
 16. Theapparatus according to claim 15 wherein the at least one characteristicof the cassette includes an amount of money associated with thecassette, wherein the data is representative of the amount of money. 17.The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the cassette includescurrency notes, wherein the data is representative of an amount of moneycorresponding to the currency notes.
 18. The apparatus according toclaim 13 wherein the cassette includes a particular number of currencynotes, wherein the data is representative of the particular number. 19.The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the data is representativeof at least one or currency nationality, currency denomination, currencylength, currency height, currency thickness, currency code, amount ofcurrency in the cassette, time the cassette was loaded with currency,date the cassette was loaded with currency, and identifying informationpertaining to a currency loading entity.
 20. The apparatus according toclaim 13 and further comprising: a currency recycling automated bankingmachine, wherein the currency recycling automated banking machine isoperative responsive to data read from user cards, wherein the cassetteis configured for use in the currency recycling automated bankingmachine.